
■*b Ji^ .-■' 



'. "^.o* : 



» « " *^ 

















^*' -^o^ :M^*^ ^^q^ i'^mt, "^o^ 






^^•n^. 



:p^- 



^'- ^--..^^ ' ,-;5&s&^o \,.^^ /jife\ ^^..^^ " /^ 



v^^ 



v*^' 














9 « ' ^^ 





v-^^ 








^'^ 



0' .»*•'* ^<;^ 







V^' 








\* , V 



'o. */T7r» /w 



,v .... 



"oV^ 



v^ /^ 






















CI. * 







fv .<;^ 



V" ." 



• ^^ A^ ^'^Va*-. '^^'^ .C"^"^ »*fSi^'. 'e. A^ '^cCCvVA': '^^o .« 







'^0 
o .—.' ^0^ <^^.„To'\,;,^^ ^^^-^^O" V'^^'V "^^^ 








\ "^^S o\ 



.^V.-j^-.-v. /.ijj;i'>o y.c;^.\ /-i^^vA ,/, 












'^O^ 




^oV" 



^^•n^. 



'•" V ^-ftP *^— '* -^ 






. ^e. A^ /^va:- .% c'?^" /.^i^\ '^^..♦^ /:;(^o:''o v.<^ • 









.5''^^vP, 










0' c-'JL'*. "o, .^^^ .''.L!*. '^ ^0^ t"^"*. "^o 




"- o 



"oV." 




, ^'^_ c" .*-;^!«' °o .1"^* >1*J^*- "%. '0 



; -^d^ o 



:. -^/.o^ f 



















■» ^^ d' 







0^ ^ ".-'XT* 







^•^. 










V ^ • Sis • -^y ^ -^JIa)^ * W ^y> " 

oV.-.-o, ,^^\c:^/V co^.lJ^^>o ..^*\c:^,\ c^^ 














c«*.i;j^.>o y.c:^.'V /.^>,*°o /, 

o V 



\ % .^^ ''^y/h.' \. ,^^ -'^m'- u ..s^ ''^%iA' •^«. .^* 






'^^ 

\ 
•* 






V^ 



^^^ 
'^^. 









lV 



H^ 



,. .« ,* O b f? A I +- 



POEMS 
SELECTED FROM THE 

HESPERIDES 

OF 
ROBERT HERRICK 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies Received 

iUN 6 !9o? 

Copyright Entry 

cuss X XXc. No 

COPY A. 



J 



Copyright, 1903 ' 
ByH.M.O'Kane 



A TABLE OF THE PIECES WHICH ARE PRINTED A Table of 


IN THIS PRESENT EDITION OF HESPERIDES the Pieces 






printed 


The Argument of his Book 


Page 


13 


To his Muse 




14 


To his Booke 




14 


Another 




15 


When he would have his verses read 




15 


Upon Julias Recovery 




15 


To Silvia to wed 




15 


The Parliament of Roses to Julia 




16 


No Bashfulnesse in begging 




16 


To Perilla 




16 


A Song to the Maskers 




17 


To Perenna 




17 


The Wounded Heart 




17 


To Anthea 




18 


The Weeping Cherry 




18 


Soft Musick 




18 


Love what it is 




18 


The Carkanet 




18 


His sailing from Julia 




19 


How the Wall-flower came first, and why 


so called 


19 


Why Flowers change colour 




19 


To his Mistresse objecting to him neither 


Toying 




or Talking 




20 


Upon the losse of his Mistresses 




20 


The Rosarie 




20 


The ParccB, or, Three dainty Destinies. The Armilet 


21 


To Robin Red-brest 




21 


Discontents in Devon 




21 


Cherrie-ripe 




21 


To his Mistresses 




22 


To Anthea 




22 


The Vision to Electra 


3 


22 



A Table of Dreames Page 22 

the Pieces His request to Julia 23 

printed Upon Julia's Voice 23 

Againe 23 

All things decay and die 23 

The succession of the foure sweet months 23 

Of Love. A Sonet 24 

The Rock of Rubies : and The quarrie of Pearls 24 

Upon Roses 24 

The Cheat of Cupid : or, The ungentle guest 25 

Delight in Disorder 26 
To Dean-bourn, a rude River in Devon: by which 

sometimes he lived 26 

To Julia 27 

The Bag of the Bee 27 

To Anthea lying in bed 27 

A Country-life: to his Brother, M. Tho: Herrick 28 

Divination by a Daffadill 32 

Upon Julia's Riband 32 

The sadnesse of things for Sapho's sicknesse 32 

An Epitaph upon a child 32 

His Fare-well to Sack 33 
Upon Mrs. Eliz : "Wheeler, under the name of 

Amarillis 34 

The Eye 35 
The suspition upon his over-much familiarity with 

a Gentlewoman 35 

The wounded Cupid. Song 36 

The Vision 37 

His Protestation to Perilla 37 

To Dianeme 38 

Upon Cupid 38 

How Primroses came green 38 
Upon a black Twist rounding the Arme of the 

Countesse of Carlile 38 



Julia's Petticoat Page 

Distrust 

Corinna's going a Maying 

The captiv'd Bee; or, The Little Filcher 

To his dying Brother, Master "William 

Herrick 

The Olive Branch 

How Lillies came white 

The Welcome to Sack 

To live merrily, and to trust to Good Verses 

To Violets 

To Carnations. A Song 

To the Virgins, to make much of Time 

His Poetrie his Pillar 

To the Lark 

A Meditation for his Mistresse 

The bleeding hand; or. The sprig of Eglantine given 

to a Maid 

Lyrick for Legacies 

The Fairie Temple: or, Oberon's Chappell dedicated 

to Mr, John Merrifield, Counsellor at Law 

The Temple 

To Mistresse Katherine Bradshaw, the lovely, that 

crowned him with Laurel 

The Plaudite, or end of life 

To Musique, to becalme his fever 

Upon Cupid 

To the Rose. Song 

The Present: or, The Bag of the Bee 

The Hock-cart, or Harvest home: To the Right 

Honourable Mildmay, Earle of Westmorland 

To Musick. A Song 

Upon the death of his Sparrow. An Elegie 

To Primroses fill'd with morning dew 

How Roses came red 



39 A Table of 

39 the Pieces 

40 printed 
42 

43 
43 
44 
44 
47 
48 
49 
49 
49 
50 
51 

51 

52 

52 
52 

56 
56 

57 
58 
58 
58 

59 
60 
60 
61 
62 



A Table of How Violets came blew Page 62 

the Pieces Mrs. Eliz, Wheeler, under the name of the lost 

printed Shepardesse 62 

The Poets good wishes for the most hopef ull and 

handsome Prince, the Duke of Yorke 63 

To Anthea, who may command him any thing 64 

To Meddowes 64 

To His Houshold gods 65 

To the Nightingale and Robin Red-Brest 65 
To the Yew and Cypresse to grace his 

Funerall 65 

I call and I call 66 
A Nuptiall Song, or Epithalamie, on Sir Clipseby Crew 

and his Lady 66 

Oberons Feast 71 

To Virgins 72 

The Bell-man 73 

Upon Prudence Baldwin her sicknesse 73 

Upon a child that dyed 73 

To Daffadills 73 

The Bracelet to Julia 74 

The Christian Militant 74 

His embalming to Julia 75 

To Larr 75 

The departure of the good Demon 75 
His age, dedicated to his peculiar friend, M. John 

Wickes under the name of Posthumus 76 

Her Bed 80 
The meddow verse or Aniversary to Mistris Bridget 

Lowman 80 

His Lachrimse or mirth turn'd to mourning 81 

To his Maid Prew 81 

How Pansies or Hart-ease came first 81 

Upon Electra 82 

The Mad Maid's Song 82 
6 



upon Julia's unlacing her self Page 83 

A Pastorall sung to the King: Montano, Silvio, and 

Mirtillo, Shepheards 83 

Upon Shewbread, Epig. 85 

To Daisies not to shut so soone 85 

To the little Spinners 85 

Oberon's Palace 86 

To Oenone 89 

To Groves 89 

An Epitaph upon a Virgin 90 
The parting Verse, or Charge to his supposed Wife 

when he travelled 91 

To Blossoms 93 

The Wassaile 94 

How Springs came first 95 

Upon Julia's haire filled with Dew 95 

Another on her 95 

Losse from the least 96 

Reward and punishments 96 

Upon himselfe 96 

Fresh Cheese and Cream 96 
An Eclogue or Pastorall between Endimion Porter 

and Lycidas Herrick, set and sung 97 

To a Bed of Tulips 98 
To the Water Nymphs, drinking at the 

Fountain 98 

Upon a Flie 99 

His Winding-sheet 99 

To Phillis to love, and live with him 101 

Upon his gray haires 102 

To Marygolds 102 

An Ode to Sir Clipsebie Crew 103 

His Content in the Country 104 

The Fairies 104 

Art above Nature, to Julia 105 



A Table of 
the Pieces 
printed 



A Table of The Poet hath lost his pipe Page 105 

the Pieces The Apparition of his Mistresse calling him to 

printed Elizium. Desunt nonnuUa — 105 

The Primrose 107 

To Julia 108 

On himselfe 108 

His Prayer to Ben Johnson 108 

The bad season makes the Poet sad 108 

To the Maids to walke abroad 109 
A Nuptiall Verse to Mistresse Elizabeth Lee, now 

Lady Tracie 110 

The Night-piece, to Julia 110 

His Charge to Julia at his Death 111 

Upon Love 111 

The Beggar to Mab, the Fairie Queen 112 

Farewell Frost, or welcome the Spring 113 

The Hag 113 

To Silvia 114 

A Bacchanalian Verse 114 

On himselfe 115 
The Country life to the honoured M. End. Porter, 

Groome of the Bed-Chamber to His Maj. 115 

To Electra 117 

What kind of Mistresse he would have 117 
A Parauceticall, or Advisive verse to his friend, M. 

John Wicks 118 

A Hymne, to the Lares 119 

To Anthea 120 

To Dianeme. A Ceremonie in Glocester 120 

The Funerall Rites of the Rose 120 

Stool-ball 121 

To Sappho 121 

The May-pole 121 

The Bracelet of Pearle: to Silvia 122 

How Roses came red 122 
8 



His returne to London 


Page 122 A Table of 


Not every day fit for Verse 


123 the Pieces 


To the Genius of his house 


123 printed 


His Grange, or private wealth 


124 


Upon Lucia dabled in the deaw 


125 


Charon and Phylomel, a Dialogue sung 


125 


A Ternarie of littles upon a pipkin of Jellie sent 




to a Lady 


126 


Upon the Roses in Julia's bosome 


126 


Lovers how they come and part 


126 


The Apron of Flowers 


127 


The Wake 


127 


Upon his Kinswoman Mrs. M. S. 


128 


A Hymne to Bacchus 


128 


An Hymne to the Muses 


129 


Upon Julia's Clothes 


129 


Upon Prew his Maid 


129 


The Invitation 


130 


Ceremonies for Christmasse 


130 


Christmas-Eve, another Ceremonie 


131 


Another to the Maids 


131 


Another 


131 


Orpheus 


131 


The Bride-Cake 


132 


To be Merry 


132 


Buriall 


132 


Griefe 


132 


The Maiden-Blush 


132 


The Cloud 


133 


The Amber Bead 


133 


To my dearest Sister M. Mercie Herrick 


133 


The Transfiguration 


133 


To Julia, in her Dawn, or Day-breake 


134 


To Dianeme 


134 


Upon a Maide 

9 


135 



A Table of To his Booke Page 


135 


the Pieces To M. Henry Lawes, the excellent Composer of 




printed his Lyricks 


135 


To Anthea 


135 


Upon Love 


136 


An Hymne to Cupid 


136 


How his soule came ensnared 


137 


Upon Julia's Haire, bundled up in a golden net 


137 


The showre of Blossomes 


137 


Ceremonies for Candlemasse Eve 


138 


The Ceremonies for Candlemasse day 


138 


Upon Candlemasse day 


139 


A Song upon Silvia 


139 


Upon Ben. Johnson 


139 


An Ode for him 


139 


To M. Kellam 


140 


Happinesse to hospitalitie, or a hearty to good 




house-keeping 


140 


To Silvia 


141 


Upon Julia's washing her self in the river 


141 


Upon Cupid 


141 


An Hymne to Love 


142 


On Himselfe 


142 


On Himselfe 


143 


Upon his Spaniell Tracie 


143 


Crutches 


143 


Ceremony upon Candlemas Eve 


143 


A Bucolick betwixt Two : Lacon and Thyrsis 


144 


Anacreontick Verse 


145 


Upon love, by way of question and answer 


145 


Anthea's Retractation 


146 


The Vision 


146 


A Vow to Venus 


146 


Saint Distaff's day, or the morrow after Twelth day 


147 


His Teares to Thamasis 


147 



10 



Twelfe night, or King and Queene Page 


1 148 


A Table of 


His desire 


149 


the Pieces 


His comfort 


149 


printed 


To his peculiar friend M. Jo: Wicks 


149 




Charmes 


150 




Another 


150 




Another 


150 




A Dialogue betwixt himselfe and Mistresse Eliza 






Wheeler, under the name of Amarillis 


150 




To Julia 


151 




To the Honoured, Master Endimion Porter 


151 




Of Love 


151 




The School, or Perl of Putney, the Mistress of all 






singular manners, Mistresse Portman 


152 




On Himself 


152 




His covenant or Protestation to Julia 


153 




To his Girles who would have him sportful! 


153 




His last request to Julia 


153 




On himselfe 


154 




To his Girles 


154 




The Voice and Violl 


154 




To Cupid 


154 




On Himselfe 


154 




To his Booke 


154 




The end of his worke 


155 




On Himselfe 


155 





11 



TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS, 

AND 

HOPEFULL PRINCE 

CHARLES, 
PRINCE OF WALES. 



WELL MAY MY BOOK COME FORTH LIKE PUBLIQUE DAY, 

WHEN SUCH A LIGHT AS YOU ARE LEADS THE WAY: 

WHO ARE MY WORKS CREATOR, AND ALONE 

THE FLAME OF IT, AND THE EXPANSION. 

AND LOOK HOW ALL THOSE HEAVENLY LAMPS ACQUIRE 

LIGHT FROM THE SUN, THAT INEXHAUSTED FIRE: 

SO ALL MY MORNE, AND EVENING STARS FROM YOU 

HAVE THEIR EXISTENCE, AND THEIR INFLUENCE TOO. 

FULL IS MY BOOK OF GLORIES; BUT ALL THESE 

BY YOU BECOME IMMORTALL SUBSTANCES. 




THE ARGUMENT OF HIS BOOK 

•SING of Brooks, of Blossomes, Birds and Bowers: 
I Of April, May, of June, and July-Flowers. 
I sing of May-poles, Hock-carts, Wassails, Wakes, 
Of Bride-grooms, Brides and of their Bridall-cakes. 
I write of Youth, of Love, and have Accesse 
I By these, to sing of cleanly- Wantonnesse. 
I sing of Dewes, of Raines, and piece by piece 
Of Balme, of Oyle, of Spice and Amber-Greece. 

I sing of Times trans-shifting; and I write 

How Roses first came Red, and Lillies White. 

I write of Groves, of Twilights, and I sing 

The Court of Mab, and of the Fairie-King. 

I write of Hell; I sing (and ever shall) 

Of Heaven, and hope to have it after all. 

13 




HESPERIDES 

To his 
Muse 




' HITHER, Mad maiden, wilt thou roame? 
Farre safer 'twere to stay at home : 
Where thou mayst sit, and piping please 
The poore and private Cottages. 

Since Coats, and Hamlets, best agree 

With this thy meaner Minstralsie. 

There with the Reed, thou mayst expresse 

The Shepherds Fleecie happinesse: 

And with thy Eclogues intermixe 

Some smooth, and harmlesse Beucolicks. 

There on a Hillock thou mayst sing 

Unto a handsome Shephardling; 

Or to a Girle (that keeps the Neat) 

With breath more sweet then Violet, 

There, there, (perhaps) such Lines as These 

May take the simple Villages. 

But for the Court, the Country wit 

Is despicable unto it. 

Stay then at home, and doe not goe 

Or flie abroad to seeke for woe. 

Contempts in Courts and Cities dwell; 

No Critick haunts the Poore man's Cell : 

Where thou mayst hear thine own Lines read 

By no one tongue, there, censured. 

That man's unwise will search for 111, 

And may prevent it, sitting still. 



To his 
Booke 




f J HILE thou didst keep thy Candor undefil'd, 
Deerely I lov'd thee; as my first-borne child: 
But when I saw thee wantonly to roame 
From house to house, and never stay at home; 
I brake my bonds of Love, and bad thee goe, 
Regardlesse whether well thou sped'st, or no. 
On with thy fortunes then, what e're they be; 
If good rie smile, if bad lie sigh for Thee. 
14 




O read my Booke the Virgin shie 
May blush, (while Brutus standeth by;) 
But when He's gone, read through what's writ, 
And never staine a cheeke for it. 

N sober mornings, doe not thou reherse 

The holy incantation of a verse ; 

But when that men have both well drunke, andf ed, 

Let my Enchantments then be sung, or read. 
"When Laurell spirts i' th' fire, and when the Hearth 
Smiles to it selfe, and guilds the roofe with mirth; 
When up the Thyrse is rais'd, and when the sound 
Of sacred Orgies flyes, A round, A round; 
When the Rose raignes, and locks with ointments shine, 
Let rigid Cato read these Lines of mine. 

[ROOP, droop no more, or hang the head, 

Ye Roses almost withered; 

Now strength, and newer Purple get, 

Each here declining violet. 
O Primroses! let this day be 
A Resurrection unto ye; 
And to all flowers ally'd in blood. 
Or sworn to that sweet Sister-hood: 
For Health on Julia's cheek hath shed 
Clarret, and Creame commingled. 
And those her lips doe now appeare 
As beames of Corrall, but more cleare. 



HESPERIDES 
Another 



When he 
would have 
his verses 
read 




Upon 
Julias 
Recovery 




ET us (though late) at last (my Silvia) wed; 
And loving lie in one devoted bed. 
Thy Watch may stand, my minutes fly poste haste ; 
No sound calls back the yeere that once is past. 



To Silvia 
to wed 



Then sweetest Silvia, let's no longer stay; 
True love, we know, precipitates delay. 



15 



HESPERIDES 



The 

Parliament 
of Roses 
to Julia 



Away with doubts, all scruples hence remove; 
No man at one time, can be wise, and love. 

DREAMT the Roses one time went 
To meet and sit in Parliament: 
The place for these, and for the rest 
Of flowers, was thy spotlesse breast: 

Over the which a State was drawne 

Of Tiffanie, or Cob- web Lawne; 

Then in that Parly, all those powers 

Voted the Rose, the Queen of flowers. 

But so, as that her self should be 

The maide of Honour unto thee. 




No 

Bashfulnesse 
in begging 



To Perilla 




O get thine ends, lay 
bashfulnesse aside; 
Who feares to aske, doth teach 
to be deny'd. 

H, my Perilla! do'st thou grieve to see 
Me, day by day, to steale away from thee? 
Age cals me hence, and my gray haires bid come, 
And haste away to mine eternal home; 
'Twill not be long (Perilla) after this. 
That I must give thee the supremest kisse: 
Dead when I am, first cast in salt, and bring 
Part of the creame from that Religious Spring; 
With which (Perilla) wash my hands and feet; 
That done, then wind me in that very sheet 
Which wrapt thy smooth limbs (when thou didst implore 
The Gods protection, but the night before) 
Follow me weeping to my Turfe, and there 
Let fall a Primrose, and with it a teare: 
Then lastly, let some weekly-strewings be 
Devoted to the memory of me: 
16 




Then shall my Ghost not walk about, but keep HESPERIDES 

Still in the coole, and silent shades of sleep. 

I OME down, and dance ye in the toyle A Song 

Of pleasures, to a Heate; to the 

But if to moisture. Let the oyle Maskers 
Of Roses be your sweat. 

Not only to your selves assume 
These sweets, but let them fly; 
From this, to that, and so Perfume 
E'ne all the standers by. 

As Goddesse Isis (when she went, 
Or glided through the street) 
Made all that touch't her, with her scent, 
And whom she touch't, turne sweet. 

■HEN I thy Parts runne o're, I can't espie To Perenna 

• In any one, the least indecencie: 

I But every Line and Limb diffused thence, 

t A faire, and unfamiliar excellence: 
So, that the more I look, the more I prove, 
Ther's still more cause, why I the more should love. 

OME bring your sampler, and with Art, The 

' Draw in't a wounded Heart : Wounded 

And dropping here, and there: Heart 

[ Not that I thinke, that any Dart, 
Can make your's bleed a teare: 
Or pierce it any where; 
Yet doe it to this end that I 
May by 
This secret see. 
Though you can make 

That Heart to bleed, your's ne'r will ake for me. 

17 





HESPERIDES 
To Anthea 



The 

Weeping 
Cherry 



Soft Musick 



Love 
what it is 



The Carkanet 





' F, deare Anthea, my hard fate it be 
To live some few-sad-howers after thee: 

I Thy sacred Corse with Odours I will burne; 
And with my Lawrell crown thy Golden Vrne. 
Then holding up (there) such religious Things, 
As were (time past) thy holy Filitings: 
Nere to thy Reverend Pitcher I will fall 
Down dead for grief, and end my woes withall: 
So three in one small plat of ground shall ly, 
Anthea, Herrick, and his Poetry. 

SAW a Cherry weep, and why? 

Why wept it? but for shame, 

I Because my Julia's lip was by, 

I And did out-red the same. 
But, pretty Fondling, let not fall 
A teare at all for that: 
Which Rubies, Corralls, Scarlets, all 
For tincture, wonder at. 

HE mellow touch of musick 
most doth wound 
The soule, when it doth rather 
sigh, then sound. 

OVE is a circle that doth 
restlesse move 
In the same sweet eternity 
of love. 

NSTEAD of Orient Pearls, of Jet, 

I sent my Love a Karkanet: 

I About her spotlesse neck she knit 

I The lace, to honour me, or it: 
Then think how wrapt was I to see 
My Jet t'enthrall such Ivorie. 
18 





'HEN thatday comes, whoseeveningsayesl'mgone HESPERIDES 

Unto that watrie Desolation : 

Devoutly to thy Closet-gods then pray, His sailing 

That my wing'd Ship may meet no Remora. from Julia 

Those Deities which circum-walk the Seas, 
And look upon our dreadfuU passages, 
Will from all dangers, re-deliver me, 
For one drink offering, poured out by thee, , 

Mercie and Truth live with thee! and forbeare 
(In my short absence) to unsluce a teare: 
But yet for Love's-sake, let thy lips doe this, 
Give my dead picture one engendring kisse: 
Work that to life, and let me ever dwell 
In thy remembrance (Julia). So farewell. 

' H Y this Flower is now call'd so, How the 

List' sweet maids, and you shal know. Wall-flower 

Understand, this First-ling was came first and 

Once a brisk and bonny Lasse, why so called 

Kept as close as Danae was: 

Who a sprightly Springall lov'd, 

And to have it fully prov'd, 

Up she got upon a wall, 

'Tempting down to slide withall: 

But the silken twist unty'd. 

So she fell, and bruis'd, she dy'd. 

Love, in pitty of the deed. 

And her loving-lucklesse speed, 

Turn'd her to this Plant, we call 

Now, The Flower of the Wall. 

HESE fresh beauties (we can prove) Why Flowers 

Once were Virgins sick of love, change colour 

Turn'd to Flowers. Still in some 
Colours goe, and colours come. 

19 





HESPERIDES 

To his 
Mistresse 
objecting to 
him neither 
Toying or 
Talking 



Upon the 
losse of his 
Mistresses. 




[OU say I love not, 'cause I doe not play 

Still with your curies, and kisse 

the time away. 

You blame me too, because I cann't devise 
Some sport, to please those Babies in your eyes: 
By Love's Religion, I must here confesse it, 
The most I love, when I the least expresse it. 
Small griefs find tongues : Full Casques are ever found 
To give, (if any, yet) but little sound. 
Deep waters noyse-lesse are; And this we know, 
That chiding streams betray small depth below. 
So when Love speechlesse is, she doth expresse 
A depth in love, and that depth, bottomlesse. 
Now since my love is tongue-lesse, know me such, 
Who speak but little, 'cause I love so much. 

HAVE lost, and lately, these 

Many dainty Mistresses : 

Stately Julia, prime of all; 

Sapho next, a principall: 
Smooth Anthea, for a skin 
White, and Heaven-like Chrystalline: 
Sweet Electra, and the choice 
Myrha, for the Lute, and Voice. 
Next, Corinna, for her wit, 
And the graceful use of it; 
With Perilla: All are gone; 
Onely Herrick's left alone, 
For to number sorrow by 
Their departures hence, and die. 




The Rosarie 




NE ask'd me where the roses grew? 
I bade him not goe seek; 
But forthwith bade my Julia shew 
A bud in either cheek. 
20 





HESPERIDES 

TheParcse.or, 
Three dainty 
Destinies. 
The Armilet 



[HREE lovely Sisters working were 

(As they were closely set) 

Of soft and dainty Maiden-haire, 

A curious Armelet. 
I smiling, ask'd them what they did? 
(Faire Destinies all three) 
Who told me, they had drawn a thred 
Of Life, and 'twas for me. 
They shew'd me then, how fine 'twas spun: 
And I reply'd thereto, 
I care not now how soone 'tis done, 
Or cut, if cut by you. 

AID out for dead, let thy last kindnesse be To Robin 

With leaves and mosse-work for to cover me: Red-brest 

And while the Wood-nimphs my cold corps inter, 
Sing thou my Dirge, sweet- warbling Chorister! 

For Epitaph, in Foliage, next write this, 

Here, here the Tomb of Robert Herrick is. 




'ORE discontents I never had 

'Since I was born, then here; 

^ Where I have been, and still am sad, 

»In this dull Devon-shire: 
Yet justly too I must confesse; 
I ne'r invented such 
Ennobled numbers for the Presse, 
Then where I loath'd so much. 



Discontents 
in Devon 



[HERRIE-RIPE, Ripe, Ripe, I cry, 
[Full and faire ones; come and buy: 
[if so be, you ask me where 
kThey doe grow? I answer. There, 

Where my Julia's lips doe smile; 

There's the Land, or Cherry-Ile: 

21 




Cherrie-ripe 



HESPERIDES 



To his 
Mistresses 



To Anthea 



The Vision 
to Electra 



Dreames 





Whose Plantations fully show 

All the yeere, where Cherries grow. 

[UT on your silks; and piece by piece 
Give them the scent of Amber-Greece: 
And for your breaths too, let them smell 
Ambrosia-like, or Nectarell; 

"While other Gums their sweets perspire, 

By your owne jewels set on fire. 

OW is the time, when all the lights wax dim; 
And thou (Anthea) must withdraw from him 
"Who was thy servant. Dearest, bury me 
Under that Holy-oke, or Gospel-tree: 
"Where (though thou see'st not) thou may think upon 
Me, when thou yeerly go'st Procession: 
Or for mine honour, lay me in that Tombe 
In which thy sacred Reliques shall have roome, 
For my Embalming (Sweetest) there will be 
No Spices wanting, when I'm laid by thee. 

DREAM'D we both were in a bed 

Of Roses, almost smothered: 

' The warmth and sweetnes had me there 

iMade lovingly familiar; 
But that I heard thy sweet breath say, 
Faults done by night, will blush by day: 
I kist thee (panting), and I call 
Night to the Record ! that was all. 
But ah ! if empty dreames so please. 
Love, give me more such nights as these. 

ERE we are all, by day: By 
night w'are hurl'd 
By dreames, each one, into 
a sev'rall world. 
22 








ULIA, if I chance to die 

Ere I print my Poetry; 

I most humbly thee desire 

To commit it to the fire: 
Better 'twere my Book were dead, 
Then to live not perfected. 

O smooth, so sweet, so silv'ry is thy voice, 
As, could they hear, the Damn'd 
would make no noise; 
But listen to thee, (walking in thy chamber) 
Melting melodious words to Lutes of Amber, 

HEN I thy singing next shall heare, 
He wish I might turne all to eare. 
To drink in Notes, and Numbers; such 
As blessed soules cann't heare too much: 

Then melted down, there let me lye 

Entranc'd, and lost confusedly; 

And by thy Musique strucken mute, 

Die and be turn'd into a Lute. 

LL things decay with Time: The Forrest sees 
The growth, and down -fall of her aged trees; 
That Timber tall, which three-score lusters stood 
The proud Dictator of the State-like wood: 
I meane (the Soveraigne of all Plants) the Oke 
Droops, dies, and falls without the cleaver's stroke. 

IRST, April, she with mellow showrs 
Opens the way for early flowers; 
Then after her comes smiling May, 
by In a more rich and sweet aray ; 
Next enters June, and brings us more 
Jems, then those two, that went before: 

23 





HESPERIDES 

His request 
to Julia 



Upon Julia's 
Voice 



Againe 



All things 
decay and 
die 



The 

succession 
of the 

foure sweet 
months 



HESPERIDES 



Of Love. 
A Sonet. 



The Rock of 
Rubies : and 
The quarrie 
of Pearls 



Upon Roses 





Then (lastly) July comes, and she 

More wealth brings in, then all those three. 

j OW Love came in, I do not know, 
whether by th' eye, or eare, or no; 
!0r whether with the soule it came 
!(At first) infused with the same; 

Whether in part 'tis here or there. 

Or, like the soule, whole every where: 

This troubles me: but I as well 

As any other, this can tell; 

That when from hence she does depart, 

The out-let then is from the heart. 

>OME ask'd me where the Rubies grew? 
And nothing I did say: 
But with my finger pointed to 
The lips of Julia. 

Some ask'd how Pearls did grow, 

and where? 

Then spoke I to my Girle, 

To part her lips, and shew'd them there 

The Quarelets of Pearl. 

; NDER a Lawne, then skyes more cleare 

Some ruffled Roses nestling were: 

And snugging there, they 

seem'd to lye 
As in a flowrie Nunnery: 

They blush'd, and look'd more fresh then flowers 
Quickned of late by Pearly showers; 
And all, because they were possest 
But of the heat of Julia's breast: 
Which as a warme, and moistned spring. 
Gave them their ever flourishing. 
24 





NE silent night of late, HESPERIDES 

"When every creature rested, 

Came one unto my gate, The Cheat of 

I And knocking, me molested. Cupid: or. 

Who's that (said I) beats there, J^^ ungentle 

And troubles thus the Sleepie? ^"^^* 

Cast off (said he) all feare, 
And let not Locks thus keep ye. 

For I a Boy am, who 
By Moonlesse nights have swerved; 
And all with showrs wet through, 
And e'en with cold half starved. 

I pittifuU arose. 
And soon a Taper lighted; 
And did my selfe disclose 
Unto the lad benighted. 

I saw he had a Bow, 

And Wings too, which did shiver 

And looking down below, 

I spy'd he had a Quiver. 

I to my Chimney's shine 
Brought him (as Love professes) 
And chaf 'd his hands with mine. 
And dry'd his dropping Tresses: 

But when he felt him warm'd. 
Let's try this bow of ours. 
And string, if they be harm'd. 
Said he, with these late showrs. 

Forthwith his bow he bent. 

And wedded string and arrow, 

And struck me, that it went 

Quite through my heart and marrow. 

25 



HESPERIDES 



Delight in 
Disorder 



To Dean- 
bourn, a rude 
River in 
Devon: by 
which 
sometimes 
he lived 




Then laughing loud, he flew 
Away, and thus said flying, 
Adieu, mine Host, Adieu, 
He leave thy heart a dying. 

SWEET disorder in the dresse 
Kindles in cloathes a wantonnesse: 
A Lawne about the shoulders thrown 
Into a fine distraction : 

An erring Lace, which here and there 

Enthralls the Crimson Stomacher : ^ 

A Cuffe neglectfuU, and thereby 

Ribbands to flow confusedly: 

A winning wave (deserving Note) 

In the tempestuous petticote : 

A carelesse shooe-string, in whose tye 

I see a wilde civility : 

Doe more bewitch me, then when Art 

Is too precise in every part. 

[EAN-BOURN, farewell; I never look to see 

I Deane, or thy warty incivility. 

Thy rockie bottome, that doth 

! teare thy streams ; 
And makes them frantick, ev'n to all extreames; 
To my content, I never sho'd behold, 
"Were thy streames silver, or thy rocks all gold. 
Rockie thou art; and rockie we discover 
Thy men; and rockie are thy wayes all over. 
O men, O manners; There and ever knowne 
To be A Rockie Generation! 
A people currish; churlish as the seas; 
And rude (almost) as rudest Savages: 
With whom I did, and may re-sojourne when 
Rockes turn to Rivers, Rivers turn to Men. 
26 





jOW rich and pleasing thou, my Julia art, HESPERIDES 

In each thy dainty, and peculiar part! 

[First, for thy Queen-ship on thy head is set To Julia 

Of flowers a sweet commingled Coronet: 
About thy neck a Carkanet is bound, 
Made of the Rubie, Pearle, and Diamond: 
A golden ring, that shines upon thy thumb : 
About thy wrist, the rich Dardanium. 
Between thy Breasts (then Doune of Swans 
more white) 

There playes the Saphire with the Chrysolite. 
No part besides must of thy self e be known, 
But by the Topaze, Opal, Calcedon. 

'BOUT the sweet bag of a Bee, The Bag 

^ Two Cupids fell at odds; of the Bee 

[ And whose the pretty prize shu'd be, 
They vow'd to ask the Gods. 

Which Venus hearing, thither came, 
And for their boldness stript them: 
And taking thence from each his flame; 
With rods of Mirtle whipt them. 

Which done, to still their wanton cries, 
When quiet grown sh'ad seen them, 
She kist, and wip'd thir dove-like eyes; 
And gave the Bag between them. 

O looks Anthea, when in bed she lyes, To Anthea 

Orecome, or halfe betray 'd by Tiffanies: lying in 

Like to a Twi-light, or that bed 

simpring Dawn, 

That Roses show, when misted o're with Lawn. 

Twilight is yet, till that her Lawnes give way; 

Which done, that Dawne, turnes then to perfect day. 

27 





HESPERIDES 

A Country- 
life: to his 
Brother, 
M. Tho: 
Herrick 




HRICE, and above, blest (my 

soule's halfe) art thou, 

In thy both Last, and Better Vow: 

Could'st leave the City, for exchange, to see 

The Countrie's sweet simplicity: 

And it to know, and practice; with intent 

To grow the sooner innocent: 

By studying to know vertue; and to aime 

More at her nature, then her name: 

The last is but the least; the first doth tell 

Wayes lesse to live, then to live well: 

And both are knowne to thee, who now can'st live 

Led by thy conscience; to give 

Justice to soone-pleas'd nature; and to know, 

Wisdome and she together goe. 

And keep one Centre: This with that conspires, 

To teach Man to confine desires : 

And know, that Riches have their proper stint, 

In the contented mind, not mint. 

And can'st instruct, that those who have the itch 

Of craving more, are never rich. 

These things thou know'st to' th' height, and dost prevent 

That plague; because thou art content 

With that Heav'n gave thee with a warie hand, 

(More blessed in thy Brasse, then Land) 

To keep cheap Nature even, and upright; 

To coole, not cocker Appetite. 

Thus thou canst tearcely live to satisfie 

The belly chiefly ; not the eye : 

Keeping the barking stomach wisely quiet, 

Lesse with a neat, then needfuU diet. 

But that which most makes sweet thy country life, 

Is, the fruition of a wife: 

Whom (stars consenting with thy Fate) thou hast 

Got, not so beautifuU, as chast: 
28 



By whose warme side thou dost securely sleep HESPERIDES 

(While Love the Centinell doth keep) 

With those deeds done by day, which ne'r affright A Country- 

Thy silken slumbers in the night. life: to his 

Nor has the darknesse power to usher in Brother, 

Feare to those sheets, that know no sin. M. Tho: 

But still thy wife, by chast intentions led, Herrick 

Gives thee each night a Maidenhead, 
The Damaskt medowes, and the peebly streames 
Sweeten, and make soft your dreames: 
The Purling springs, groves, birds, and well-weav'dBowrs, 
With fields enameled with flowers. 
Present their shapes; while fantasie discloses 
Millions of Lillies mixt with Roses. 
Then dream, ye heare the Lamb by many a bleat 
Woo'd to come suck the milkie Teat: 
While Faunus in the Vision comes to keep, 
From rav'ning wolves the fleecie sheep. 
With thousand such enchanting dreams, that meet 
To make sleep not so sound, as sweet: 
Nor can these figures so thy rest endeare, 
As not to rise when Chanticlere 
Warnes the last Watch; but with the Dawne dost rise 
To work, but first to sacrifice; 
Making thy peace with heav'n, for some late fault, 
With Holy-meale, and spirting-salt. 
Which done, thy painfull Thumb this sentence tells us, 
Jove for our labour all things sells us. 
Nor are thy daily and devout affaires 
Attended with those desp'rate cares, 
Th' industrious Merchant has; who for to find 
Gold, runneth to the Western Inde, 
And back again, (tortur'd with fears) doth fly. 
Untaught to suffer Poverty. 
But thou at home, blest with securest ease, 

29 



HESPERIDES 

A Country- 
life: to his 
Brother, 
M. Tho: 
Herrick 



Sitt'st, and beleev'st that there be seas, 
And watrie dangers; while thy whiter hap. 
But sees these things within thy Map. 
And viewing them with a more safe survey, 
Mak'st easie Feare unto thee say, 
A heart thrice wall'd with Oke, and brasse, that man 
Had, first, durst plow the Ocean. 
But thou at home without or tyde or gale, 
Canst in thy Map securely saile : 
Seeing those painted Countries ; and so guesse 
By those fine Shades, their Substances : 
And from thy Compasse taking small advice, 
Buy'st Travell at the lowest price. 
Nor are thine eares so deaf e, but thou canst heare, 
(Far more with wonder, then with feare) 
Fame tell of States, of Countries, Courts, and Kings; 
And beleeve there be such things : 
When of these truths, thy happyer knowledge lyes, 
More in thine eares, then in thine eyes. 
And when thou hear'st by that too-true-Report, 
Vice rules the Most, or All at Court: 
Thy pious wishes are, (though thou not there) 
Vertue had, and mov'd her Sphere. 
But thou liv'st fearlesse; and thy face ne'r shewes 
Fortune when she comes, or goes. 
But with thy equall thoughts, prepar'd dost stand, 
To take her by the either hand: 
Nor car'st which comes the first, the foule or faire; 
A wise man ev'ry way lies square. 
And like a surly Oke with storms perplext; 
Growes still the stronger, strongly vext. 
Be so, bold spirit; Stand Center-like, unmov'd; 
And be not onely thought, but prov'd 
To be what I report thee; and inure 
Thy selfe, if want comes to endure: 
30 



And so thou dost : for thy desires are HESPERIDES 

Confin'd to live with private Larr: 

Not curious whether Appetite be fed, A Country- 

Or with the first, or second bread. life: to his 

"Who keep'st no proud mouth for delicious cates : Brother, 

Hunger makes coorse meats, delicates. M. Tho: 

Can'st, and unurg'd, forsake that Larded fare, Herrick 

"Which Art, not Nature, makes so rare; 
To taste boyl'd Nettles, Colworts, Beets, and eate 
These, and sowre herbs, as dainty meat? 
While soft Opinion makes thy Genius say, 
Content makes all Ambrosia. 
Nor is it, that thou keep'st this stricter size 
So much for want, as exercise : 

To numb the sence of Dearth, which sho'd sinne haste it, 
Thou might'st but onely see't, not taste it. 
Yet can thy humble roofe maintaine a Quire 
Of singing Crickits by thy fire: 

And the brisk Mouse may feast her selfe with crums, 
Till that the green-ey'd Kitling comes. 
Then to her Cabbin, blest she can escape 
The sudden danger of a Rape. 
And thus thy little- well-kept stock doth prove, 
Wealth cannot make a life, but Love. 
Nor art thou so close-handed, but can'st spend 
(Counsell concurring with the end) 
As well as spare: still conning o'r this Theame, 
To shun the first, and last extreame. 
Ordaining that thy small stock find no breach, 
Or to exceed thy Tether's reach: 
But to live round, and close, and wisely true 
To thine owne selfe; and knowne to few. 
Thus let thy Rurall Sanctuary be 
Elizium to thy wife and thee; 
There to disport your selves with golden measure: 

31 



HESPERIDES 



Divination 
by a 
Daffadill 



Upon Julia's 
Riband 



The sadnesse 
of things 
for Sapho's 
sicknesse 



An Epitaph 
upon a 
child 




For seldome use commends the pleasure. 

Live, and live blest; thrice happy Paire; Let Breath, 

But lost to one, be th' others death. 

And as there is one Love, one Faith, one Troth, 

Be so one Death, one Grave to both. 

Till when, in such assurance live, ye may 

Nor feare, or wish your dying day. 

'HEN a Daffadill I see, 

Hanging down his head t' wards me; 

Guesse I may, what I must be: 

First, I shall decline my head; 
Secondly, I shall be dead; 
Lastly, safely buryed. 

S shews the Aire, when with a Rain-bow grac'd; 
So smiles that Riband 'bout my Julia's waste: 
Or like — Nay 'tis that Zonulet of love, 
Wherein all pleasures of the world are wove. 

ILLIES will languish; Violets look ill; 

Sickly the Prim-rose; Pale the Daffadill: 

That gallant Tulip will hang down his head, 

Like to a Virgin newly ravished. 
Pansies will weep; and Marygolds will wither; 
And keep a Fast, and Funerall together. 
If Sapho droop; Daisies will open never, 
But bid Good-night, and close their lids for ever. 

iIRGINS promis'd when I dy'd. 
That they wo'd each Primrose-tide, 
Duely, Morne and Ev'ning, come, 
And with flowers dresse my Tomb. 
Having promis'd, pay your debts, 
Maids, and here strew Violets. 
32 






! AREWELL thou Thing, time-past HESPERIDES 

so knowne, so deare 

To me, as blood to life and His Fare- well 

£i^ spirit : Neare, to Sack 

Nay, thou more neare then kindred, 
friend, man, wife, 

Male to the female, soule to body: Life 
To quick [our] action, or the warme soft side 
Of the resigning, yet resisting Bride. 
The kisse of Virgins; First-fruits of the bed; 
Soft speech, smooth touch, the lips, the Maidenhead: 
These, and a thousand sweets, co'd never be 
So neare, or deare, as thou wast once to me. 
O thou the drink of Gods, and Angels ! Wine 
That scatter 'st Spirit and Lust; whose purest shine, 
More radiant then the Summers Sun-beams shows; 
Each way illustrious, brave; and like to those 
Comets we see by night; whose shagg'd portents 
Fore-tell the comming of some dire events: 
Or some full flame, which with a pride aspires, 
Throwing about his wild, and active fires. 
'Tis thou, above Nectar, O Divinest soule! 
(Eternall in thy self) that canst controule 
That, which subverts whole nature, grief and care; 
Vexation of the mind, and damn'd Despaire. 
Tis thou, alone, who with thy Mistick Fan, 
"Work'st more then Wisdome, Art, or Nature can, 
To rouze the sacred madnesse; and awake 
The frost-bound-blood, and spirits; and to make 
Them frantick with thy raptures, flashing through 
The soule, like lightning, and as active too. 
'Tis not Apollo can, or those thrice three 
Castalian sisters, sing, if wanting thee. 
Horace, Anacreon both had lost their fame, 
Hadst thou not fill'd them with thy fire and flame. 

33 



HESPERIDES 

His Fare-well 
to Sack 



Phoebean splendour! and thou Thespian spring! 

Of which, sweet Swans must drink, before they sing 

Their true-pac'd Numbers, and their Holy-Layes, 

Which makes them worthy Cedar, and the bayes. 

But why? why longer doe I gaze upon \ 

Thee with the eye of admiration? 

Since I must leave thee; and enforc'd, must say 

To all thy witching beauties, Goe, Away. 

But if thy whimpring looks doe ask me why? 

Then know, that Nature bids thee goe, not I. 

'Tis her erroneous self has made a braine 

Uncapable of such a Soveraigne, 

As is thy powerfuU selfe. Prethee not smile; 

Or smile more inly; lest thy looks beguile 

My vowes denounc'd in zeale, which thus much show thee, 

That I have sworn, but by thy looks to know thee. 

Let others drink thee freely; and desire 

Thee and their lips espous'd; while I admire, 

And love thee; but not taste thee. Let my Muse 

Faile of thy former helps: and onely use 

Her inadult'rate strength: what's done by me 

Hereafter, shall smell of the Lamp, not thee. 



Upon 
Mrs. Eliz: 
Wheeler, 
under the 
name of 
Amarillis 




I WEET Amarillis, by a Spring's 
Soft and soule-melting murmurings, 
Slept; and thus sleeping, thither flew 
A RolDin-red-brest; who at view. 

Not seeing her at all to stir. 

Brought leaves and mosse to cover her: 

But while he, perking, there did prie 

About the Arch of either eye; 

The lid began to let out day; 

At which poore Robin flew away: 

And seeing her not dead, but all disleav'd; 

He chirpt for joy, to see himself disceav'd. 
34 




[AKE me a heaven; and make me there 

Many a lesse and greater spheare. 

Make me the straight, and oblique lines; 

The Motions, Lations, and the Signes. 
Make me a Chariot, and a Sun; 
And let them through a Zodiac run: 
Next, place me Zones, and Tropicks there; 
"With all the Seasons of the Yeare. 
Make me a Sun-set; and a Night 
And then present the Mornings-light 
Cloath'd in her Chamlets of Delight. 
To these, make Clouds to poure downe raine; 
"With weather f oule, then faire againe. 
And when, wise Artist, that thou hast, 
With all that can be, this heaven grac't; 
Ah ! what is then this curious skie, 
But onely my Corinna's eye? 

ND must we part, because some say, 
Loud is our love, and loose our play, 
And more then well becomes the day ? 
Alas for pitty ! and for us 

Most innocent, and injur'd thus 

Had we kept close, or play'd within, 

Suspition now had been the sinne, 

And shame had foUow'd long ere this, 

T'ave plagu'd, what now unpunisht is. 

But we as f earlesse of the Sunne, 

As faultlesse; will not wish undone, 

What now is done : since where no sin 

Unbolts the doore, no shame comes in. 

Then, comely and most fragrant Maid, 

Be you more warie, then afraid 

Of these Reports; because you see 

The fairest most suspected be. 

35 



HESPERIDES 
The Eye 




The suspition 
upon his 
over-much 
familiarity 
with a 
Gentlewoman 



HESPERIDES 

The suspition 
upon his 
over-much 
familiarity 
with a 
Gentlewoman 



The 

wounded 
Cupid. 
Song 



The common formes have no one eye, 
Or eare of burning jealousie 
To follow them: but chiefly, where 
Love makes the cheek, and chin a sphere 
To dance and play in: (Trust me) there 
Suspicion questions every haire. 
Come, you are faire; and sho'd be seen 
While you are in your sprightfuU green: 
And what though you had been embrac't 
By me, — were you for that unchast? 
No, no, no more then is yond' Moone, 
Which shining in her perfect Noone; 
In all that great and glorious light, 
Continues cold, as is the night. 
Then, beauteous Maid, you may retire; 
And as for me, my chast desire 
Shall move t'wards you; although I see 
Your face no more: So live you free 
From Fames black lips, as you from me. 

UPID as he lay among 
Roses, by a Bee was stung. 
Whereupon in anger flying 
To his Mother, said thus crying; 
Help, O help! your Boy's a dying. 
And why, my pretty Lad, said she? 
Then blubbering, replyed he, 
A winged Snake has bitten me, 
Which Country people call a Bee. 
At which she smil'd; then with her hairs 
And kisses drying up his tears : 
Alas! said she, my Wag! if this 
Such a pernicious torment is: 
Come tel me then, how great's the smart 
Of those, thou woundest with thy Dart! 
36 





ITTING alone (as HESPERIDES 

one forsook) 

Close by a Silver-shedding The Vision 

Brook; 

"With hands held up to Love, I wept; . 
And after sorrowes spent, I slept: 
Then in a Vision I did see 
A glorious forme appeare to me: 
A Virgins face she had; her dresse 
Was like a sprightly Spartanesse. 
A silver bow with green silk strung, 
Down from her comely shoulders hung: 
And as she stood, the wanton Aire 
Dangled the ringlets of her haire. 
Her legs were such Diana shows, 
When tuckt up she a-hunting goes; 
With Buskins shortned to descrie 
The happy dawning of her thigh : 
Which when I saw, I made accesse 
To kisse that tempting nakednesse: 
But she forbad me, with a wand 
Of Mirtle she had in her hand: 
And chiding me, said. Hence, Remove, 
Herrick, thou art too coorse to love. 

' OONE-D AY and Midnight shall at once be seene : His 
'Trees, at one time, shall be both sere and greene: Protestation 
I Fire and water shall together lye to Perilla 

I In one-self -sweet-conspiring sympathie: 

Summer and Winter shall at one time show 

Ripe eares of corne, and up to th'eares in snow; 

Seas shall be sandlesse; Fields devoid of grasse; 

Shapelesse the world (as when all Chaos was) 

Before my deare Perilla, I will be 

False to my vow, or fall away from thee. 

37 




HESPERIDES 
To Dianeme 



Upon Cupid 



How 

Primroses 
came green 

Upon a black 
Twist, 

rounding the 
Arme of the 
Countesse of 
Carlile 





I "WEET, be not proud of those two eyes, 
Which Star-like sparkle in their skies: 
Nor be you proud, that you can see 
All hearts your captives; yours, yet free: 
Be you not proud of that rich haire, 
Which wantons with the Love-sick aire : 
Whenas that Rubie, which you weare, 
Sunk from the tip of your soft eare, 
Will last to be a precious Stone, 
When all your world of Beauties gone. 

OVE, like a Gypsie, lately came; 
And did me much importune 
To see my hand; that by the same 
He might fore-tell my Fortune. 

He saw my Palme; and then, said he, 
I tell thee, by this score here; 
That thou, within few months, shalt be 
The youthfuU Prince D'Amour here. 

I smil'd; and bade him once more prove. 
And by some crosse-line show it; 
That I co'd ne'r be Prince of Love, 
Though here the Princely Poet. 

IRGINS, time-past, known were these. 
Troubled with Green-sicknesses, 
Turn'd to flowers: Stil the hieu, 
Sickly Girles, they beare of you. 

SAW about her spotlesse wrist. 
Of blackest silk, a curious twist; 
Which, circumvolving gently, there 
Enthrall'd her Arme, as Prisoner. 

Dark was the Jayle; but as if light 

Had met t'engender with the night; 
38 





Or so, as Darknesse made a stay HESPERIDES 

To shew at once, both night and day. 

I fancie more! but if there be 

Such Freedome in Captivity; 

I beg of Love, that ever I 

May in like Chains of Darknesse lie. 

[HY Azure Robe, I did behold, Julia's 

As ayrie as the leaves of gold: Petticoat 

Which erring here, and wandring there, 

Pleas'd with transgression ev'ry where: 
Sometimes 'two'd pant, and sigh, and heave, 
As if to stir it scarce had leave: 
But having got it; thereupon, 
'Two'd make a brave expansion. 
And pounc't with Stars, it shew'd to me 
Like a Celestiall Canopie 
Sometimes 'two'd blaze, and then abate, 
Like to a flame growne moderate: 
Sometimes away 'twould wildly fling; 
Then to thy thighs so closely cling, 
That some conceit did melt me downe. 
As Lovers fall into a s wo one: 
And all confus'd, I there did lie 
Drown'd in Delights; but co'd not die. 
That Leading Cloud, I f oUow'd still. 
Hoping t'ave seene of it my fill; 
But ah! I co'd not: sho'd it move 
To Life Eternal, I co'd love. 

O safe-guard Man from wrongs, there Distrust 

I nothing must 

Be truer to him, then a wise Distrust. 
And to thy self e be best this sentence knowne, 
Heare all men speak; but credit few or none. 

39 




HESPERIDES 

Corinna's 
going a 
Maying 




ET up, get up for shame, the 

Blooming Morne 

Upon her wings presents the god unshorne. 

See how Aurora throwes her faire 
Fresh-quilted colours through the aire: 
Get up, sweet Slug-a-bed, and see 
The Dew-bespangling Herbe and Tree. 
Each Flower has wept, and bow'd toward the East, 
Above an houre since; yet you not drest. 
Nay! not so much as out of bed? 
When all the Birds have Mattens seyd, 
And sung their thankfull Hymnes: 'tis sin. 
Nay, profanation to keep in, 
Whenas a thousand Virgins on this day, 
Spring sooner then the Lark, to fetch in May. 

Rise; and put on your Foliage, and be seene 

To come forth, like the Spring-time, fresh and greene; 

And sweet as Flora. Take no care 

For Jewels for your Gowne, or Haire: 

Feare not; the leaves will strew 

Gemms in abundance upon you: 

Besides, the childhood of the Day has kept. 

Against you come, some Orient Pearls unwept: 

Come, and receive them while the light 

Hangs on the Dew-locks of the night: 

And Titan on the Eastern hill 

Retires himselfe, or else stands still 

Till you come forth. Wash, dresse, be brief e in praying: 

Few Beads are best, when once we goe a Maying. 

Come, my Corinna, come; and comming, marke 
How each field turns a street; each street a Park 
Made green, and trimm'd with trees: see how 
Devotion gives each House a Bough, 
Or Branch: Each Porch, each doore, ere this, 
40 



An Arke a Tabernacle is HESPERIDES 

Made up of white-thorn neatly enterwove; 

As if here were those cooler shades of love. Corinna's 

Can such delights be in the street, going a 

And open fields, and we not see't? Maying 

Come, we'll abroad; and let's obay 

The Proclamation made for May: 

And sin no more, as we have done, by staying; 

But my Corinna, come, let's goe a Maying. 

There's not a budding Boy, or Girle, this day, 

But is got up, and gone to bring in May. 

A deale of Youth, ere this, is come 

Back, and with White-thorn laden home. 

Some have dispatcht their Cakes and Creame, 

Before that we have left to dreame: 

And some have wept, and woo'd, and plighted Troth, 

And chose their Priest, ere we can cast off sloth: 

Many a green-gown has been given; 

Many a kisse, both odde and even: 

Many a glance too has been sent 

From out the eye. Love's Firmament: 

Many a jest told of the Keyes betraying 

This night, and Locks pickt, yet w'are not a Maying. 

Come, let us goe, while we are in our prime; 

And take the harmlesse f oUie of the time. 

We shall grow old apace, and die 

Before we know our liberty. 

Our life is short; and our dayes run 

As fast away as do's the Sunne: 

And as a vapour, or a drop of raine 

Once lost, can ne'er be found againe: 

So when or you or I are made 

A fable, song, or fleeting shade; 

All love, all liking, all delight 

41 



HESPERIDES 



The captiv'd 
Bee; or, 
The Little 
Filcher 




Lies drown'd with us in endlesse night. 

Then while time serves, and we are but decaying; 

Come, my Corinna, come, let's goe a Maying. 

S Julia once a-slumb'ring lay, 
It chanc't a Bee did flie that way, 
(After a dew, or dew-like shower) 
To tipple freely in a flower. 

For some rich flower, he took the lip 

Of Julia, and began to sip; 

But when he felt he suckt from thence 

Hony, and in the quintessence: 

He drank so much he scarce co'd stir; 

So Julia took the pilferer. 

And thus surpriz'd (as Filchers use) 

He thus began himself e t'excuse: 

Sweet Lady-Flower, I never brought 

Hither the least one theeving thought: 

But taking those rare lips of yours 

For some fresh, fragrant, luscious flowers: 

I thought I might there take a taste, 

Where so much sirrop ran at waste. 

Besides, know this, I never sting 

The flower that gives me nourishing: 

But with a kisse, or thanks, doe pay 

For Honie, that I beare away. 

This said, he laid his little scrip 

Of hony, 'fore her Ladiship: 

And told her, (as some tears did fall) 

That that, he took, and that was all. 

At which she smil'd; and bade him goe 

And take his bag; but thus much know, 

When next he came a-pilfring so. 

He sho'd from her full lips derive, 

Hony enough to fill his hive. 
42 




)IFE of my life, take not so HESPERIDES 

; soone Thy flight, 

But stay the time till we have To his dying 

bade Good night Brother, 

Thou hast both "Wind and Tide Master 

with thee; Thy way William 

As soone dispatcht is by the Night, as Day. Herrick 

Let us not then so rudely henceforth goe 
Till we have wept, kist, sigh't, shook hands, or so. 
There's paine in parting ; and a kind of hell. 
When once true-lovers take their last Fare-well. 
What? shall we two our endlesse leaves take here 
Without a sad looke, or a solemne teare? 
He knowes not Love, that hath not this truth proved, 
Love is most loth to leave the thing beloved. 
Pay we our Vowes, and goe; yet when we part 
Then, even then, I will bequeath my heart 
Into thy loving hands: For He keep none 
To warme my Breast, when thou my Pulse art gone. 
No, here He last, and walk (a harmless shade) 
About this Urne, wherein thy Dust is laid, 
To guard it so, as nothing here shall be 
Heavy, to hurt those sacred seeds of thee. 

JADLY I walk't within the field. The Olive 

To see what comfort it wo'd yeeld: Branch 

And as I went my private way. 
An Olive Branch before me lay: 

And seeing it, I made a stay. 

And took it up, and view'd it; then 

Kissing the Omen, said Amen: 

Be, be it so, and let this be 

A Divination unto me: 

That in short time my woes shall cease; . 

And Love shall crown my End with Peace. 

43 




HESPERIDES 

How Lillies 
came white 



The 

Welcome 
to Sack 





HITE though ye be; yet, Lillies, know, 

From the first ye were not so: 

But He tell ye; 

What befell ye 
Cupid and his Mother lay, 
In a Cloud; while both did play. 
He with his pretty finger prest 
The rubie niplet of her breast; 
Out of the which, the creame of light, 
Like to a Dew, 
Fell downe on you, 
And made ye white. 

O soft streams meet, so springs with gladder smiles 
Meet after long divorcement by the lies : 
When Love (the child of likenesse) urgeth on 
Their Christal natures to an union. 
So meet stolne kisses, when the Moonie nights 
Call forth fierce Lovers to their wisht Delights: 
So Kings & Queens meet, when Desire convinces 
All thoughts, but such as aime at getting Princes, 
As I meet thee. Soule of my life, and fame! 
Eternall Lamp of Love! whose radiant flame 
Out-glares the Heav'ns Osiris; and thy gleams 
Out-shine the splendour of his mid-day beams. 
Welcome, O welcome my illustrious Spouse; 
Welcome as are the ends unto my Vowes: 
I ! far more welcome then the happy soile. 
The Sea-scourg'd Merchant, after all his toile, 
Salutes with tears of joy; when fires betray 
The smoakie chimneys of his Ithaca, 
Where hast thou been so long from my embraces, 
Poore pittyed Exile? Tell me, did thy Graces 
Flie discontented hence, and for a time 
Did rather choose to blesse another clime? 
44 



Or went'st thou to this end, the more to move me, HESPERIDES 

By thy short absence, to desire and love thee? 
Why frowns my Sweet? Why won't my Saint confer The 

Favours on me, her fierce Idolater? Welcome 

Why are Those Looks, Those Looks the which have been to Sack 
Time-past so fragrant, sickly now drawn in 
Like a dull Twi-light? Tell me; and the fault 
He expiate with Sulphur, Haire, and Salt: 
And with the Christal humour of the spring. 
Purge hence the guilt, and kill this quarrelling. 
Wo't thou not smile, or tell me what's amisse? 
Have I been cold to hug thee, too remisse. 
Too temp'rate in embracing? Tell me, has desire 
To thee- ward dy'd i'th'embers, and no fire 
Left in this rak't-up Ash-heap, as a mark 
To testifie the glowing of a spark? 
Have I divorc't thee onely to combine 
In hot Adult'ry with another Wine? 
True, I confesse I left thee, and appeale 
'Twas done by me, more to confirme my zeale, 
And double my affection on thee; as doe those. 
Whose love growes more enflam'd, by being Foes. 
But to forsake thee ever, co'd there be 
A thought of such like possibilitie? 
When thou thy selfe dar'st say, thy lies shall lack 
Grapes, before Herrick leaves Canarie Sack. 
Thou mak'st me ayrie, active to be born. 
Like Iphyclus, upon the tops of Corn. 
Thou mak'st me nimble, as the winged howers, 
To dance and caper on the heads of flowers. 
And ride the Sun-beams, Can there be a thing 
Under the heavenly Isis, that can bring 
More love unto my life, or can present 
My Genius with a fuller blandishment? 
Illustrious Idoll! co'd th' ^Egyptians seek 

45 



HESPERIDES 

The 

Welcome 
to Sack 



Help from the Garlick, Onyon, and the Leek, 
And pay no vowes to thee? who wast their best 
God, and far more transcendent then the rest? 
Had Cassias, that weak Water-drinker, known 
Thee in thy Vine, or had but tasted one 
Small Chalice of thy frantick liquor; He 
As the wise Cato had approv'd of thee, 
Had not Joves son, that brave Tyrinthian Swain, 
(Invited to the Thesbian banquet) ta'ne 
Full goblets of thy gen'rous blood; his spright 
Ne'er had kept heat for fifty Maids that night. 
Come, come and kisse me; Love and lust commends 
Thee, and thy beauties; kisse, we will be friends 
Too strong for Fate to break us: Look upon 
Me, with that full pride of complexion. 
As Queenes, meet Queenes; or come thou unto me, 
As Cleopatra came to Anthonie; 
When her high carriage did at once present 
To the Triumvir, Love and Wonderment. 
Swell up my nerves with spirit; let my blood 
Run through my veins, like to a hasty flood. 
Fill each part full of fire, active to doe 
What thy commanding soule shall put it to. 
And till I turne Apostate to thy love. 
Which here I vow to serve, doe not remove 
Thy Fiers from me; but Apollo's curse 
Blast these-like actions, or a thing that's worse; 
When these Circumstants shall but live to see 
The time that I prevaricate from thee. 
Call me The sonne of Beere, and then confine 
Me to the Tap, the Tost, the Turfe; Let Wine 
Ne'r shine upon me; May my Numbers all 
Run to a sudden Death, and Funerall. 
And last, when thee (deare Spouse) I disavow, 
Ne'r may Prophetique Daphne crown my Brow. 
46 




' OW is the time for mirth, HESPERIDES 
Nor cheek, or tongue be dumbe: 

For with the flowrie earth. To live 

The golden pomp is come. merrily, and 

The golden Pomp is come; J? *^"^* *° 

T-' 1- X J ' Good 

For now each tree do s weare ^^ 

(Made of her Pap and Gum) verses 

Rich beads of Amber here. 

Now raignes the Rose, and now 
Th' Arabian Dew besmears 
My uncontrolled brow. 
And my retorted haires. 

Homer, this Health to thee, 
In Sack of such a kind. 
That it wo'd make thee see. 
Though thou wert ne'r so blind. 

Next, Virgil, He call forth. 
To pledge this second Health 
In Wine, whose each cup's worth 
An Indian Common-wealth. 

A Goblet next He drink 
To Ovid; and suppose, 
Made he the pledge, he'd think 
The world had all one Nose. 

Then this immensive cup 
Of Aromatike wine, 
Catullus, I quaffe up 
To that Terce Muse of thine. 

Wild I am now with heat; 

O Bacchus! coole thy Raies! 

Or frantick I shall eate 

Thy Thyrse, and bite the Bayes. 

47 



HESPERIDES 

To live 
merrily, and 
to trust to 
Good 
Verses 



Round, round, the roof do's run; 
And being ravisht thus. 
Come, I will drink a Tun 
To my Propertius. 

Now, to TibuUus, next. 
This flood I drink to thee: 
But stay; I see a Text, 
That this presents to me. 

Behold, TibuUus lies 

Here burnt, whose smal return 

Of ashes, scarce suffice 

To fill a little Urne. 

Trust to good Verses then; 
They onely will aspire, 
"When Pyramids, as men. 
Are lost, i' th' funerall fire. 

And when all Bodies meet 
In Lethe to be drown'd; 
Then onely Numbers sweet, 
With endless life are crown'd. 




To Violets V1@r77^J7ELCOME, Maids of Honour, 

! You doe bring 
In the Spring 
And wait upon her. 

She has Virgins many, 
Fresh and faire; 
Yet you are 
More sweet then any. 

Y'are the Maiden Posies, 
And so grac't. 
To be plac't, 
'Fore Damask Roses. 
48 





Yet though thus respected, 

By and by 

Ye doe lie, 

Poore Girles, neglected. 

'TAY while ye will, or goe; 
And leave no scent behind ye: 
Yet trust me, I shall know 
The place, where I may find ye: 

Within my Lucia's cheek, 
(Whose Livery ye weare) 
Play ye at Hide or Seek, 
I'm sure to find ye there. 

[ATHER ye Rose-buds while ye may, 
Old Time is still a flying : 
And this same flower that smiles to day, 
To morrow will be dying. 

The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun, 
The higher he's a getting; 
The sooner will his Race be run, 
And neerer he's to Setting. 

That Age is best, which is the first. 
When Youth and Blood are warmer; 
But being spent, the worse, and worst 
Times, still succeed the former. 

Then be not coy, but use your time; 
And while ye may, goe marry: 
For having lost but once your prime, 
You may for ever tarry. 

NELY a little more 

I have to write. 

Then He give o're. 

And bid the world Good-night. 

49 



HESPERIDES 



To Carnations. 
A Song 



To the 
Virgins, to 
make much 
of Time 




His Poetrie 
his Pillar 



HESPERIDES 

His Poetrie 
his Pillar 



To the Lark 



'Tis but a flying minute, 

That I must stay, 

Or linger in it; 

And then I must away. 

time that cut'st down all! 
And scarce leav'st here 
Memoriall 

Of any men that were. 

How many lye forgot 
In Vaults beneath? 
And piece-meale rot 
"Without a fame in death? 

Behold this living stone, 

1 reare for me, 
Ne'r to be thrown 

Downe, envious Time by thee. 

Pillars let some set up, 
(If so they please) 
Here is my hope, 
And my Pyramides. 

jOOD speed, for I this day 

Betimes my Mattens say : 

Because I doe 

Begin to wooe: 
Sweet singing Lark, 
Be thou the Clark, 
And know thy when 
To say. Amen. 
And if I prove 
Blest in my love; 
Then thou shalt be 
High-Priest to me, 
50 





At my returne, HESPERIDES 

To Incense burne; 
And so to solemnize 
Love's, and my Sacrifice. 

[OU are a Tulip seen to day, A Meditation 

But (Dearest) of so for his 

short a stay; Mistresse 
That where you grew, scarce man can say. 

You are a lovely July -flower. 

Yet one rude wind, or ruffling shower, 

Will force you hence, (and in an houre.) 

You are a sparkling Rose i' th' bud, 
Yet lost, ere that chast flesh and blood 
Can shew where you or grew, or stood. 

You are a full-spread faire-set Vine, 
And can with Tendrills love intwine, 
Yet dry'd, ere you distill your Wine. 

You are like Balme inclosed (well) 
In Amber, or some Chrystall shell. 
Yet lost ere you transfuse your smell. 

You are a dainty Violet, 

Yet wither'd, ere you can be set 

Within the Virgins Coronet, 

You are the Queen all flowers among, 
But die you must (faire Maid) ere long. 
As He, the maker of this Song. 

[ROM this bleeding hand of mine, The bleeding 

Take this sprig of Eglantine. hand: or, 

Which (though sweet unto your smell) The sprig of 

£i^ Yet the fretfuU bryar will tell. Eglantine 

He who plucks the sweets shall prove given to a 

Many thorns to be in Love. Maid 

51 




HESPERIDES 

Lyrick for 
Legacies 



The Fairie 
Temple: or, 
Oberon's 
Chappell. 
Dedicated to 
Mr. John 
Merrifield, 
Counsellor 
at Law 



The Temple 





OLD I've none, for use or show. 
Neither Silver to bestow 
At my death; but thus much know, 
That each Lyrick here shall be 

Of my love a Legacie, 

Left to all posterity. 

Gentle friends, then doe but please, 

To accept such coynes as these; 

As my last Remembrances. 

ARE Temples thou hast seen, I know, 
And rich for in and outward show: 
Survey this Chappell, built, alone, 
Without or Lime, or Wood, or Stone: 
Then say, if one th'ast seene more fine 
Then this, the Fairies once, now Thine. 

WAY enchac't with glasse & beads 
There is that to the Chappel leads: 
Whose structure (for his holy rest) 
Is here the Halcion's curious nest: 

Into the which who looks shall see 

His Temple of Idolatry: 

Where he of God-heads has such store, 

As Rome's Pantheon had not more. 

His house of Rimmon this he calls. 

Girt with small bones, instead of walls. 

First, in a Neech, more black then jet 

His Idol-Cricket there is set: 

Then in a Polisht Ovall by 

There stands his Idol-Beetle-flie: 

Next in an Arch, akin to this, 

His Idol-Canker seated is: 

Then in a Round, is plac't by these, 

His golden god, Cantharides. 
52 




So that where ere ye look, ye see, HESPERIDES 

No CapitoU, no Cornish free, 

Or Freeze, from this fine Fripperie. The Temple 

Now this the Fairies wo'd have known, 

Theirs is a mixt Religion. 

And some have heard the Elves it call 

Part Pagan, part Papisticall. 

If unto me all Tongues were granted, 

I co'd not speak the Saints here painted. 

Saint Tit, Saint Nit, Saint Is, Saint Itis, 

Who 'gainst Mabs-state plac'd here right is. 

Saint Will o' th' Wispe (of no great bignes) 

But alias call'd here Fatuus ignis. 

Saint Frip, Saint Trip, Saint Fill, S. Fillie, 

Neither those other-Saint-ships will I 

Here goe about for to recite 

Their number (almost) infinite. 

Which one by one here set downe are 

In this most curious Calendar. 

First, at the entrance of the gate, 

A little-Puppet-Priest doth wait. 

Who squeaks to all the commers there. 

Favour your tongues, who enter here. 

Pure hands bring hither, without staine. 

A second pules. Hence, hence, profane. 

Hard by, i' th' shell of half e a nut, 

The Holy- water there is put: 

A little brush of Squirrils haires, 

(Compos'd of odde, not even paires) 

Stands in the Platter, or close by, 

To purge the Fairie Family. 

Neere to the Altar stands the Priest, 

There off 'ring up the Holy-Grist: 

Ducking in Mood, and perfect Tense, 

With (much-good-do't him) reverence. 

53 



HESPERIDES 
The Temple 



The Altar is not here foure-square, 
Nor in a forme Triangular; 
Not made of glasse, or wood, or stone, 
But of a little Transverce bone; 
Which boyes, and Bruckel'd children call 
(Playing for Points and Pins) Cockall. 
Whose Linnen-Drapery is a thin 
Subtile and ductile Codlin's skin; 
Which o're the board is smoothly spred, 
With little Seale-work Damasked. 
The Fringe that circumbinds it too, 
Is Spangle-work of trembling dew, 
Which, gently gleaming, makes a show, 
Like Frost-work glitt'ring on the Snow. 
Upon this fetuous board doth stand 
Something for Shew-bread, and at hand 
(Just in the middle of the Altar) 
Upon an end, Fairie-Psalter, 
Grac't with the Trout-flies curious wings, 
Which serve for watched Ribbanings. 
Now, we must know, the Elves are led 
Right by the Rubrick, which they read. 
And if Report of them be true, 
They have their Text for what they doe; 
I, and their Book of Canons too. 
And, as Sir Thomas Parson tells, 
They have their Book of Articles: 
And if that Fairie Knight not lies. 
They have their Book of Homilies: 
And other Scriptures, that designe 
A short, but righteous discipline. 
The Bason stands the board upon 
To take the Free-Oblation: 
A little Pin-dust; which they hold 
More precious, then we prize our gold: 
54 



Which charity they give to many HESPERIDES 

Poore of the Parish, (if there's any). 

Upon the ends of these neat Railes The Temple 

(Hatcht, with the Silver-light of snails,) 

The Elves, in formall manner, fix 

Two pure, and holy Candlesticks: 

In either which a small tall bent 

Burns for the Altars ornament. 

For sanctity, they have, to these, 

Their curious Copes and Surplices 

Of cleanest Cobweb, hanging by 

In their Religious Vesterie. 

They have their Ash-pans, & their Brooms 

To purge the Chappell and the rooms: 

Their many mumbling Masse-priests here, 

And many a dapper Chorister. 

There ush'ring Vergers, here likewise, 

Their Canons, and their Chaunteries: 

Of Cloyster-Monks they have enow, 

I, and their Abby-Lubbers too : 

And if their Legend doe not lye. 

They much affect the Papacie : 

And since the last is dead, there's hope, 

Elve Boniface shall next be Pope. 

They have their Cups and Chalices; 

Their Pardons and Indulgences: 

Their Beads of Nits, Bels, Books, & Wax 

Candles (forsooth) and other knacks: 

Their Holy Oyle, their Fasting -Spittle; 

Their sacred Salt here, (not a little.) 

Dry chips, old shooes, rags, grease, & bones; 

Beside their Fumigations, 

To drive the Devill from the Cod-piece 

Of the Fryar, (of work an odde-piece.) 

Many a trifle too, and trinket, 

55 



HESPERIDES 



The Temple 



To Mistresse 
Katherine 
Bradshaw, the 
lovely, that 
crowned him 
with Laurel 



And for what use, scarce man wo'd think it. 

Next, then, upon the Chanters side 

An Apples-core is hung up dry'd, 

"With ratling Kirnils, which is rung 

To call to Morn, and Even-Song. 

The Saint, to which the most he prayes 

And offers Incense Nights and dayes, 

The Lady of the Lobster is. 

Whose foot-pace he doth stroak and kisse; 

And, humbly, chives of Saffron brings, 

For his most cheerfuU offerings. 

When, after these, h'as paid his vows, 

He lowly to the Altar bows: 

And then he dons the Silk-worms shed, 

(Like a Turks Turbant on his head), 

And reverently departeth thence. 

Hid in a cloud of Frankincense: 

And by the glow-worms light wel guided, 

Goes to the Feast that's now provided. 

Y Muse in Meads has spent her many houres. 
Sitting, and sorting severall sorts of flowers, 
To make for others garlands: and to set 
On many a head here, many a Coronet: 

But, amongst All encircled here, not one 

Gave her a day of Coronation; 

Till you (sweet Mistresse) came and enterwove 

A Laurel for her, (ever young as love), 

You first of all crown'd her; she must of due, 

Render for that, a crowne of life to you. 




The Plaudite, 
or end of life 




F after rude and boystrous seas. 
My weary ed Pinnace here finds ease: 
If so it be I've gain'd the shore 
With safety of a faithful Ore: 
56 




If having run my Barque on ground, HESPERIDES 

Ye see the aged Vessell crown'd: 

"What's to be done? but on the Sands 

Ye dance, and sing, and now clap hands. 

The first Act's doubtful!, (but we say) 

It is the last commends the Play. 

[HARM me asleep, and melt me so To Musique, 

With thy Delicious Numbers; to becalme 

That being ravisht, hence I goe his Fever 

Away in easie slumbers. 

Ease my sick head. 

And make my bed. 

Thou Power that canst sever 

From me this ill: 

And quickly still: 

Though thou not kill 

My Fever. 

Thou sweetly canst convert the same 

From a consuming fire. 

Into a gentle-licking flame. 

And make it thus expire. 

Then make me weep 

My paines asleep; 

And give me such reposes, 

That I, poore I, 

May think, thereby, 

I live and die 

'Mongst Roses. 

Fall on me like a silent dew, 

Or like those Maiden showrs, 

Which, by the peepe of day, doe strew 

A Baptime o're the flowers. 

Melt, melt my paines, 

57 



HESPERIDES 



Upon Cupid 



To the Rose. 

Song 



The Present: 
or, The Bag 
of the Bee 





With thy soft straines; 
That having ease me given, 
With full delight, 
I leave this light; 
And take my flight 
For Heaven. 

S lately I a Garland bound, 
'Mongst Roses, I there Cupid found: 
I took him, put him in my cup. 
And drunk with Wine, I drank him up. 

Hence then it is, that my poore brest 

Co'd never since find any rest. 

[OE, happy Rose, and enterwove 
; With other Flowers, bind my Love. 
Tell her too, she must not be, 
Longer flowing, longer free, 

That so oft has fetter' d me. 

Say (if she's fretfull) I have bands 

Of Pearle, and Gold, to bind her hands: 

Tell her, if she struggle still, 

I have Mirtle rods, (at will) 

For to tame, though not to kill. 

Take thou my blessing, thus, and goe, 
And tell her this, but doe not so, 
Lest a handsome anger flye, 
Like a Lightning, from her eye, 
And burn thee up, as well as L 

|LY to my Mistresse, pretty pilfring Bee, 
And say, thou bring'st this Hony-bag from me: 
When on her lip, thou hast thy sweet dew plac't, 
Mark, if her tongue, but slily , steale a taste. 
If so, we live; if not, with mournfull humme, 
Tole forth my death; next, to my buryall come. 
58 





lOME, Sons of Summer, by whose toile, HESPERIDES 

' We are the Lords of Wine and Oile: 

By whose tough labours, and rough hands, The Hock- 

We rip up first, then reap our lands. cart, or 

Crown'd with the eares of corne, now come, Harvest 

And, to the Pipe, sing Harvest home. home: To the 

Come forth, my Lord, and see the Cart Right 

Drest up with all the Country Art. Honourable, 

See, here a Maukin, there a sheet, Mildmay, 

As spotlesse pure, as it is sweet: Earle of 

The Horses, Mares, and frisking Fillies, Westmorland 

(Clad, all, in Linnen, white as Lillies.) 
The Harvest Swaines, and Wenches bound 
For joy, to see the Hock-cart crown'd. 
About the Cart, heare, how the Rout 
Of Rurall Younglings raise the shout; 
Pressing before, some coming after. 
Those with a shout, and these with laughter. 
Some blesse the Cart; some kisse the sheaves; 
Some prank them up with Oaken leaves : 
Some crosse the Fill-horse; some with great 
Devotion, stroak the home-borne wheat: 
While other Rusticks, less attent 
To Prayers, then to Merryment, 
Run after with their breeches rent. 
Well, on, brave boyes, to your Lord's Hearth, 
Glitt'ring with fire; where, for your mirth, 
Ye shall see first the large and cheefe 
Foundation of your Feast, Fat Beefe: 
With Upper Stories, Mutton, Veale 
And Bacon, (which makes full the meale) 
With sev'rall dishes standing by, 
As here a Custard, there a Pie, 
And here all-tempting Frumentie. 
And for to make the merry cheere, 

59 



HESPERIDES 

The Hock- 
cart, or 
Harvest 
home : To the 
Right 

Honourable, 
Mildmay, 
Earle of 
Westmorland 



To Musick. 
A Song 



If smirking "Wine be wanting here, 

There's that, which drowns all care, stout Beere; 

Which freely drink to your Lords health. 

Then to the Plough, (the Common- wealth) 

Next to your Flailes, your Fanes, your Fatts; 

Then to the Maids with Wheaten Hats: 

To the rough Sickle, and crookt Sythe, 

Drink, froUick, boyes, till all be blythe. 

Feed, and grow fat; and as ye eat, 

Be mindfull, that the lab 'ring Neat 

(As you) may have their fill of meat. 

And know, besides, ye must revoke 

The patient Oxe unto the Yoke, 

And all goe back unto the Plough 

And Harrow, (though they'r hang'd up now.) 

And, you must know, your Lords word's true, 

Feed him ye must, whose food fils you. 

And that this pleasure is like raine. 

Not sent ye for to drowne your paine, 

But for to make it spring againe. 

' USICK, thou Queen of Heaven, Care-charming spel, 

I That strik'st a stilnesse into hell: 

' Thou that tam'stTygers, and fierce storms (that rise) 

.With thy soule-melting Lullabies: 
Fall down, down, down, from those thy chiming spheres, 
To charme our soules, as thou enchant'st our eares. 




Upon the 
death of his 
Sparrow. 
An Elegie 




'HY doe not all fresh maids appeare 
'■ To work Love's Sampler onely here, 
Where spring-time smiles throughout the yeare? 
, Are not here Rose-buds, Pinks, all flowers, 

Nature begets by th' Sun and showers. 

Met in one Hearce-cloth, to ore-spred 

The body of the under-dead? 
60 



Phill, the late dead, the late dead Deare, HESPERIDES 

O ! may no eye distill a Teare 

For you once lost, who weep not here! 

Had Lesbia (too-too-kind) but known 

This Sparrow, she had scorn'd her own: 

And for this dead which under-lies, 

Wept out her heart, as well as eyes. 

But endlesse Peace, sit here, and keep 

My Phill, the time he has to sleep, 

And thousand Virgins come and weep, 

To make these flowrie Carpets show 

Fresh, as their blood; and ever grow, 

Till passengers shall spend their doome, 

Not Virgil's Gnat had such a Tomb. 

'HY doe ye weep, sweet Babes? can Tears To Primroses 

Speak grief e in you, fill'd with 

Who were but borne morning 

Just as the modest Morne dew 

Teem'd her refreshing dew? 

Alas, you have not known that shower, 

That marres a flower; 

Nor felt th' unkind 

Breath of a blasting wind ; 

Nor are ye worne with yeares; 

Or warpt, as we. 

Who think it strange to see, 

Such pretty flowers, (like to Orphans young,) 

To speak by Teares, before ye have a Tongue. 

Speak, whimp'ring Younglings, and make known 

The reason, why 

Ye droop, and weep; 

Is it for want of sleep? 

Or childish LuUabie? 

Or that ye have not seen as yet 

61 




HESPERIDES 



How Roses 
came red 



The Violet? 

Or brought a kisse 

From that Sweet-heart, to this? 

No, no, this sorrow shown 

By your teares shed, 

Wo' have this Lecture read, 

That things of greatest, so of meanest worth, 

Conceiv'd with grief are, and with teares brought forth. 

OSES at first were white, 

Till they co'd not agree, 

Whether my Sapho's breast. 

Or they more white sho'd be. 
But being vanquisht quite, 
A blush their cheeks bespred; 
Since which (beleeve the rest) 
The Roses first came red. 




How Violets 
came blew 



Mrs. Eliz. 
Wheeler, 
under the 
name of 
the lost 
Shepardesse 




OVE on a day (wise Poets tell) 
Some time in wrangling spent. 
Whether the Violets sho'd excell, 
Or she, in sweetest scent. 

But Venus having lost the day, 

Poore Girles, she fell on you; 

And beat ye so, (as some dare say) 

Her blowes did make you blew. 

MONG the Mirtles, as I walkt. 
Love and my sighs thus intertalkt: 
Tell me, said I, in deep distresse, 
Where I may find my Shepardesse. 

Thou foole, said Love, know'st thou not this? 

In every thing that's sweet, she is. 

In yond' Carnation goe and seek. 

There thou shalt find her lip and cheek: 
62 




In that ennamel'd Pansie by, HESPERIDES 

There thou shalt have her curious eye: 

In bloome of Peach, and Roses bud. 

There waves the Streamer of her blood. 

'Tis true, said I, and thereupon 

I went to pluck them one by one, 

To make of parts an union; 

But on a sudden all were gone. 

At which I stopt; Said Love, these be 

The true resemblances of thee; 

For as these flowers, thy joyes must die. 

And in the turning of an eye; 

And all thy hopes of her must wither. 

Like those short sweets ere knit together. 

'AY his pretty Duke-ship grow The Poets 

I Like t' a Rose of Jericho: good wishes 

* Sweeter far, then ever yet for the most 

iShowrs or Sun-shines co'd beget. hopefull and 

May the Graces, and the Howers handsome 

Strew his hopes, and Him with flowers: Prince, the 

And so dresse him up with Love, Duke of 

As to be the Chick of Jove. Yorke 

May the thrice-three-Sisters sing 

Him the Soveraigne of their Spring: 

And entitle none to be 

Prince of Hellicon, but He. 

May his soft foot, where it treads, 

Gardens thence produce and Meads: 

And those Meddowes full be set 

With the Rose, and Violet. 

May his ample Name be knowne 

To the last succession: 

And his actions high be told 

Through the world, but writ in gold. 

63 




HESPERIDES 

To Anthea, 
who may 
command 
him any 
thing 



To 

Meddowes 




'ID me to live, and I will live 
JThy Protestant to be: 
I Or bid me love, and I will give 
I A loving heart to thee. 

A heart as soft, a heart as kind, 

A heart as sound and free, 

As in the whole world thou canst find, 

That heart He give to thee. 

Bid that heart stay, and it will stay, 
To honour thy Decree: 
Or bid it languish quite away, 
And't shall doe so for thee. 

Bid me to weep, and I will weep. 
While I have eyes to see: 
And having none, yet I will keep 
A heart to weep for thee. 

Bid me despaire, and He despaire, 
Under the Cypresse tree: 
Or bid me die, and I will dare 
E'en Death, to die for thee. 

Thou art my life, my love, my heart, 
The very eyes of me: 
And hast command of every part, 
To live and die for thee. 

[E have been fresh and green, 
Ye have been fill'd with flowers: 
And ye the Walks have been 
Where Maids have spent their houres. 

You have beheld, how they 
With Wicker Arks did come 
To kisse, and beare away 
The richer Couslips home. 
64 





Y'ave heard them sweetly sing, 
And seen them in a Round: 
Each Virgin, like a Spring, 
With Hony-succles crown'd. 

But now, we see, none here, 
Whose silv'rie feet did tread. 
And with dishevell'd Haire, 
Adorn'd this smoother Mead. 

Like Unthrifts, having spent 
Your stock, and needy grown, 
Y'are left here to lament 
Your poore estates, alone. 

ISE, Houshold-gods, and let us goe; 

But whither, I my selfe not know. 

First, let us dwell on rudest seas; 

Next, with severest Salvages; 
Last, let us make our best abode. 
Where humane foot, as yet, n'er trod: 
Search worlds of Ice; and rather there 
Dwell, then in lothed Devonshire. 

HEN I departed am, ring thou my knell. 
Thou pittifuU, and pretty Philomel: 
And when I'm laid out for a Corse; then be 
Thou Sexton (Red-brest) for to cover me. 

'OTH you two have 

; Relation to the grave: 

lAnd where 

I The Fun'rall -Trump sounds, you are there. 

I shall be made 

Ere long a fleeting shade: 

Pray come, 

And doe some honour to my Tomb. 

65 




HESPERIDES 

To 

Meddowes 



To His 

Houshold 

gods 



To the 
Nightingale, 
and Robin 
Red-brest 

To the Yew 
and Cypresse 
to grace his 
Funerall 



HESPERIDES 



I call 
and I call 



A Nuptiall 
Song, or 
Epithalamie, 
on Sir 
Clipseby 
Crew and 
his Lady 





Do not deny 

My last request; for I 

Will be 

Thankfull to you, or friends, for me. 

CALL, I call: who doe ye call? 
The Maids to catch this Cowslip-ball: 
I But since these Cowslips fading be, 
Troth, leave the flowers, and Maids, take me. 

Yet, if that neither you will doe. 

Speak but the word, and He take you, 

'HAT'S that we see from far? 

the spring of Day 

Bloom'dfrom the East, or f aire 

Injewel'd May 
Blowne out of April; or some New- 
Star fill'd with glory to our view, 
Reaching at heaven, 
To adde a nobler Planet to the seven? 
Say, or doe we not descrie 
Some Goddesse, in a cloud of Tiffanie 
To move, or rather the 
Emergent Venus from the Sea? 

'Tis she! 'tis she! or else some more Divine 
Enlightned substance; mark how from the Shrine 
Of holy Saints she paces on. 
Treading upon Vermilion 
And Amber; Spice- 

ing the Chaf't-Aire with fumes of Paradise. 
Then come on, come on, and yeeld 
A savour like unto a blessed field. 
When the bedabled Morne 
Washes the golden eares of corne. 
66 



See where she comes; and smell how all the street 

Breathes Vine-yards and Pomgranats: O how sweet! 

As a fir'd Altar, is each stone, 

Perspiring pounded Cynamon. 

The Phenix nest, 

Built up of odours, burneth in her breast. 

Who therein wo'd not consume 

His soule to Ash-heaps in that rich perfume? 

Bestroaking Fate the while 

He burnes to Embers on the Pile. 

Himen, O Himen! tread the sacred ground; 

Shew thy white feet, and head with Marjoram crown'd: 

Mount up thy flames, and let thy Torch 

Display the Bridegroom in the porch, 

In his desires 

More towring, more disparkling then thy fires: 

Shew her how his eyes do turne 

And roule about, and in their motions burne 

Their balls to Cindars: haste. 

Or else to ashes he will waste. 

Glide by the banks of Virgins then, and passe 

The Shewers of Roses, lucky four-leav'd grasse: 

The while the cloud of younglings sing. 

And drown yee with a f lowrie Spring : 

While some repeat 

Your praise, and bless you, sprinkling you with Wheat: 

While that others doe divine; 

Blest is the Bride, on whom the Sun doth shine; 

And thousands gladly wish 

You multiply, as doth a Fish. 

And beautious Bride we do confess y'are wise, 
In dealing forth these bashfuU jealousies: 
In Lov's name do so; and a price 
Set on your selfe, by being nice: 

67 



HESPERIDES 

A Nuptiall 
Song, or 
Epithalamie, 
on Sir 
Clipseby 
Crew and 
his Lady 



HESPERIDES 

A Nuptiall 
Song, or 
Epithalamie, 
on Sir 
Clipseby 
Crew and 
his Lady 



But yet take heed; 

What now you seem, be not the same indeed, 
And turne Apostate: Love will 
Part of the way be met; or sit stone-still. 
On then, and though you slow- 
ly go, yet, howsoever, go. 

And now y'are enter'd; see the Codled Cook 

Runs from his Torrid Zone, to prie, and look, 

And blesse his dainty Mistresse: see, 

The Aged point out. This is she, 

"Who now must sway 

The House (Love shield her) with her Yea and Nay: 

And the smirk Butler thinks it 

Sin, in's Nap'rie, not to express his wit; 

Each striving to devise 

Some gin, wherewith to catch your eyes. 

To bed, to bed, kind Turtles, now, and write 

This the short'st day, and this the longest night; 

But yet too short for you: 'tis we, 

Who count this night as long as three. 

Lying alone, 

TeUing the Clock strike Ten, Eleven, Twelve, One. 

Quickly, quickly then prepare; 

And let the Young-men and the Bride-maids share 

Your Garters; and their joynts 

Encircle with the Bride-grooms Points. 

By the Brides eyes, and by the teeming life 

Of her green hopes, we charge ye, that no strife, 

(Farther then Gentlenes tends) gets place 

Among ye, striving for her lace: 

O doe not fall 

Foule in these noble pastimes, lest ye call 

Discord in, and so divide 

The youthfull Bride-groom and the fragrant Bride: 

68 



Which Love fore-fend; but spoken 

Be't to your praise, no peace was broken. 

Strip her of Spring-time, tender-whimpring-maids, 

Now Autumne's come, when all those flowrie aids 

Of her Delayes must end; Dispose 

That Lady-smock, that Pansie, and that Rose 

Neatly apart; 

But for Prick-madam, and for Gentle-heart; 

And soft Maidens-blush, the Bride 

Makes holy these, all others lay aside: 

Then strip her, or unto her 

Let him come, who dares undo her. 

And to enchant yee more, see every where 

About the Roofe a Syren in a Sphere; 

(As we think) singing to the dinne 

Of many a warbling Cherubin: 

O marke yee how 

The soule of Nature melts in numbers: now 

See, a thousand Cupids flye. 

To light their Tapers at the Brides bright eye. 

To Bed; or her they'l tire, 

Were she an Element of fire. 

And to your more bewitching, see, the proud 

Plumpe Bed beare up, and swelling like a cloud, 

Tempting the two too modest; can 

Yee see it brusle like a Swan, 

And you be cold 

To meet it, when it woo's and seemes to fold 

The Armes to hugge it? throw, throw 

Your selves into the mighty over-flow 

Of that white Pride, and Drowne 

The night, with you, in floods of Downe. 

The bed is ready, and the maze of Love 
Lookes for the treaders; every where is wove 

69 



HESPERIDES 

A Nuptiall 
Song, or 
Epithalamie, 
on Sir 
Clipseby 
Crew and 
his Lady 



HESPERIDES 

A Nuptiall 
Song, or 
Epithalamie, 
on Sir 
Clipseby 
Crew and 
his Lady 



"Wit and new misterie; read, and 

Put in practise, to understand 

And know each wile, 

Each hieroglyphick of a kisse or smile; 

And do it to the full; reach 

High in your own conceipt, and some way teach 

Nature and Art, one more 

Play then they ever knew before. 

If needs we must for Ceremonies-sake, 

Blesse a Sack-posset; Luck go with it; take 

The Night-Charme quickly; you have spells, 

And magicks for to end, and hells, 

To passe; but such 

And of such Torture as no one would grutch 

To live therein for ever: Frie 

And consume, and grow again to die, 

And live, and in that case. 

Love the confusion of the place. 

But since It must be done, dispatch, and sowe 

Up in a sheet your Bride, and what if so 

It be with Rock, or walles of Brasse, 

Ye Towre her up, as Danae was; 

Thinke you that this, 

Or hell it selfe a powerfuU Bulwarke is? 

I tell yee no; but like a 

Bold bolt of thunder he will make his way, 

And rend the cloud, and throw 

The sheet about, like flakes of snow. 

All now is husht in silence; Midwife-moone, 
With all her Owle-ey'd issue begs a boon 
Which you must grant; that's entrance; with 
Which extract, all we can call pith 
And quintiscence 

Of Planetary bodies; so commence 
70 




All faire Constellations HESPERIDES 

Looking upon yee, That two Nations 
Springing from two such Fires, 
May blaze the vertue of their Sires. 

IHAPCOT! to thee the Fairy State Oberons 

I with discretion, dedicate. Feast 

Because thou prizest things that are 

Curious, and un-familiar. 
Take first the feast; these dishes gone; 
"Wee'l see the Fairy-Court anon. 

A LITTLE MUSHROOME-TABLE SPRED, 

After short prayers, they set on bread; 

A Moon-parcht grain of purest wheat, 

With some small glit'ring gritt, to eate 

His choyce bitts with ; then in a trice 

They make a feast lesse great then nice. 

But all this while his eye is serv'd, 

We must not thinke his eare was sterv'd: 

But that there was in place to stir 

His Spleen, the chirring Grasshopper; 

The merry Cricket, puling Flie, 

The piping Gnat for minstralcy. 

And now, we must imagine first. 

The Elves present to quench his thirst 

A pure seed-Pearle of Infant dew. 

Brought and besweetned in a blew 

And pregnant violet; which done, 

His kitling eyes begin to runne 

Quite through the table, where he spies 

The homes of paperie Butterflies: 

Of which he eates, and tastes a little 

Of that we call the Cuckoes spittle. 

A little Fuz-ball pudding stands 

71 



HESPERIDES 

Oberons 
Feast 



By, yet not blessed by his hands, 

That was too coorse; but then forthwith 

He ventures boldly on the pith 

Of sugred Rush, and eates the sagge 

And well bestrutted Bees sweet bagge: 

Gladding his pallat with some store 

Of Emits eggs; what wo'd he more? 

But Beards of Mice, a Newt's stew'd thigh, 

A bloated Earewig, and a Flie; 

With the Red-capt worme, that's shut 

Within the concave of a Nut, 

Browne as his Tooth. A little Moth, 

Late fatned in a piece of cloth: 

With withered cherries; Mandrakes eares; 

Moles eyes; to these, the slain-Stags teares: 

The unctuous dewlaps of a Snaile; 

The broke-heart of a Nightingale 

Ore-come in musicke; with a wine, 

Ne're ravisht from the flattering Vine, 

But gently prest from the soft side 

Of the most sweet and dainty Bride, 

Brought in a dainty daizie, which 

He fully quaffs up to bewitch 

His blood to height: this done, commended 

Grace by his Priest; The feast is ended. 



To Virgins iTS^S^Ti ^ARE, ye Virgins, and He teach. 

What the times of old did preach. 
Rosamond was in a Bower 
Kept, as Danae in a Tower: 

But yet Love (who subtile is) 

Crept to that, and came to this. 

Be ye lockt up like to these. 

Or the rich Hesperides; 

Or those Babies in your eyes, 
72 





In their Christall Nunneries; 
Notwithstanding Love will win, 
Or else force a passage in: 
And as coy be, as you can, 
Gifts will get ye, or the man. 

ROM noise of Scare-fires rest ye free, 
From Murders Benedicitie. 
From all mischances, that may fright 
Your pleasing slumbers in the night: 

Mercie secure ye all, and keep 

The Goblin from ye, while ye sleep. 

Past one aclock, and almost two. 

My Masters all, Good day to you. 

'RUE, my dearest Maid, is sick. 

Almost to be Lunatick: 

-^sculapius! come and bring 

Means for her recovering; 
And a gallant Cock shall be 
Offer'd up by Her, to Thee. 

jERE she lies, a pretty bud, 
Lately made of flesh and blood : 
Who, as soone, fell fast asleep, 
As her little eyes did peep. 

Give her strewings; but not stir 

The earth, that lightly covers her. 

AIRE Daffadills, we weep to see 
You haste away so soone: 
As yet the early-rising Sun 
Has not attain'd his Noone. 

Stay, stay. 

Until the hasting day 

73 



HESPERIDES 



The Bell-man 






Upon 
Prudence 
Baldwin her 
sicknesse 



Upon a 
child that 
dyed 



To Daffadills 



HESPERIDES 



The Bracelet 
to Julia 



The Christian 
Militant 



Has run 

But to the Even-song; 

And, having pray'd together, we 

Will go with you along. 

We have short time to stay, as you, 

We have as short a Spring; 

As quick a growth to meet Decay, 

As you, or any thing. 

We die, 

As your hours doe, and drie 

Away, 

Like to the Summers raine; 

Or as the pearles of Mornings dew 

Ne'r to be found againe. 

'HY I tye about thy wrist 

! Julia, this my silken twist; 

For what other reason is't, 

But to shew thee how in part, 
Thou my pretty Captive art? 
But thy Bondslave is my heart : 
'Tis but silke that bindeth thee, 
Knap the thread, and thou art free: 
But 'tis otherwise with me; 
I am bound, and fast bound so. 
That from thee I cannot go, 
If I co'd, I wo'd not so. 

MAN prepar'd against all ills to come. 
That dares to dead the fire of martirdome : 
That sleeps at home; and say ling there at ease, 
Feares not the fierce sedition of the Seas: 
That's counter-proofe against the Farms mishaps, 
Undreadfull too of courtly thunderclaps : 
That weares one face (like heaven) and never showes 
74 






A change, when Fortune either comes, or goes: HESPERIDES 

That keepes his own strong guard, in the despight 

Of what can hurt by day, or harme by night: 

That takes and re-dehvers every stroake 

Of Chance (as made up all of rock, and oake:) 

That sighs at others death; smiles at his own 

Most dire and horrid crucifixion. 

Who for true glory suffers thus; we grant 

Him to be here our Christian militant. 

I OR my embalming, Julia, do but this, His 

I Give thou my lips but their embalming 

' supreamest kiss : to Julia 

' Or else trans -fuse thy breath into the chest, 

Where my small reliques must for ever rest: 

That breath the Balm, the myrrh, the Nard shal be, 

To give an incorruption unto me. 

'O more shall I, since I am To Larr 

Mriven hence, 

I Devote to thee my graines 

[of Frankinsence: 
No more shall I from mantle-trees hang downe, 
To honour thee, my little Parsly crown : 
No more shall I (I feare me) to thee bring 
My chives of Garlick for an offering : 
No more shall I, from henceforth, heare a quire 
Of merry Crickets by my Country fire. 
Go where I will, thou luckie Larr stay here, 
Warme by a glit'ring chimnie all the yeare. 

HAT can I do in Poetry, The 

Now the good Spirit's gone from me? departure 

Why nothing now, but lonely sit, of the 

And over-read what I have writ. good Demon 

75 





HESPERIDES 

His age, 
dedicated to 
his peculiar 
friend, M. 
John Wickes, 
under the 
name of 
Posthumus 




H Posthumus! Our yeares hence flye, 

And leave no sound; nor piety, 

Or prayers, or vow 

Can keepe the wrinkle from the brow: 
But we must on, 

As Fate do's lead or draw us; none, 
None, Posthumus, co'd ere decline 
The doome of cruell Proserpine. 
The pleasing wife, the house, the ground 
Must all be left, no one plant found 
To follow thee, 

Save only the Curst-Cipresse tree: 
A merry mind 

Looks forward, scornes what's left behind: 
Let's live, my Wickes, then, while we may, 
And here enjoy our Holiday. 
Wave seen the past-best Times, and these 
Will nere return, we see the Seas, 
And Moons to wain; 
But they fill up their Ebbs again: 
But vanisht, man 
Like to a Lilly-lost, nere can, 
Nere can repullulate, or bring 
His dayes to see a second Spring. 
But on we must, and thither tend. 
Where Anchus and rich Tullus blend 
Their sacred seed: 
Thus has Infernall Jove decreed; 
We must be made. 
Ere long, a song, ere long, a shade. 
Why, then, since life to us is short, 
Let's make it full up, by our sport. 
Crown we our Heads with Roses then, 
And 'noint with Tirian Balme; for when 
76 



"We two are dead, 

The world with us is buried. 

Then live we free, 

As is the Air, and let us be 

Our own fair wind, and mark each one 

Day with the white and Luckie stone. 

We are not poore; although we have 

No roofs of Cedar, nor our brave 

Baiae, nor keep 

Account of such a flock of sheep; 

Nor Bullocks fed 

To lard the shambles: Barbels bred 

To kisse our hands, nor do we wish 

For Pollio's Lampries in our dish. 

If we can meet, and so conferre, 

Both by a shining Salt-seller; 

And have our Roofe, 

Although not archt, yet weather-proofe, 

And seeling free. 

From that cheape Candle baudery: 

We'le eate our Beane with that full mirth 

As we were Lords of all the earth. 

Well, then, on what Seas we are tost, 

Our comfort is, we can't be lost. 

Let the winds drive 

Our Barke; yet she will keepe alive 

Amidst the deepes; 

'Tis constancy (my Wickes) which keepes 

The Pinnace up ; which though she erres 

r th' Seas, she saves her passengers. 

Say, we must part (sweet mercy blesse, 
Us both i' th' Sea, Camp, Wildernesse) 
Can we so farre 
Stray, to become lesse circular, 

77 



HESPERIDES 

His age, 
dedicated to 
his peculiar 
friend, M. 
John Wickes, 
under the 
name of 
Posthumus 



HESPERIDES 

His age, 
dedicated to 
his peculiar 
friend, M. 
John Wickes, 
under the 
name of 
Posthumus 



Then we are now? 

No, no, that selfe same heart, that vow, 

Which made us one, shall ne'r undoe; 

Or ravell so, to make us two. 

Live in thy peace ; as for my selfe, 

When I am bruised on the Shelfe 

Of Time, and show 

My locks behung with frost and snow: 

When with the reume. 

The cough, the ptisick, I consume 

Unto an almost nothing; then, 

The Ages fled. He call agen. 

And with a teare compare these last 

Lame, and bad times, with those are past, 

While Baucis by. 

My old leane wife, shall kisse it dry: 

And so we'l sit 

By 'th'fire, foretelling snow and slit, 

And weather by our aches, grown 

Now old enough to be our own 

True Calenders, as Pusses eare 

Washt ore, to tell what change is neare: 

Then to asswage 

The gripings of the chine by age; 

lie call my young 

liilus to sing such a song 

I made upon my Julia's brest; 

And of her blush at such a feast. 

Then shall he read that flowre of mine 
Enclos'd within a christall shrine: 
A Primrose next; 
A piece, then of a higher text: 
For to beget 

In me a more transcendant heate, 
78 



Then that insinuating fire, 
Which crept into each aged Sire; 

When the faire Hellen, from her eyes, 

Shot forth her loving Sorceries: 

At which rie reare 

Mine aged limbs above my chaire: 

And hearing it, 

Flutter and crow, as in a fit 

Of fresh concupiscence, and cry, 

No lust theres like to Poetry. 

Thus frantick-crazie man (God wot) 

He call to mind things half forgot: 

And oft between. 

Repeat the Times that I have seen! 

Thus ripe with tears. 

And twisting my liilus hairs; 

Doting, He weep and say (In Truth) 

Baucis, these were my sins of youth. 

Then next He cause my hopefuU Lad 

(If a wild Apple can be had) 

To crown the Hearth, 

(Larr thus conspiring with our mirth) 

Then to infuse 

Our browner Ale into the cruse : 

Which sweetly spic't, we'l first carouse 

Unto the Genius of the house. 

Then the next health to friends of mine 

(Loving the brave Burgundian wine) 

High sons of Pith, 

Whose fortunes I have frolickt with: 

Such as co'd well 

Bear up the Magick bough, and spel: 

And dancing 'bout the Mystick Thyrse, 

Give up the just applause to verse : 



HESPERIDES 

His age, 
dedicated to 
his peculiar 
friend, M. 
John Wickes, 
under the 
name of 
Posthumus 



79 



HESPERIDES 

His age, 
dedicated to 
his peculiar 
friend, M. 
John Wickes, 
under the 
name of 
Posthumus 



Her Bed 



The meddow 
verse or 
Aniversary 
to Mistris 
Bridget 
Lowman 



To those, and then agen to thee 

"We'l drink, my Wickes, untill we be 

Plump as the cherry, 

Though not so fresh, yet full as merry 

As the crickit; 

The untam'd Heifer, or the Pricket, 

Untill our tongues shall tell our ears, 

Ware younger by a score of years. 

Thus, till we see the fire lesse shine 

From th' embers then the kitlings eyne, 

We'l still sit up, 

Sphering about the wassail cup, 

To all those times. 

Which gave me honour for my Rhimes: 

The cole once spent, we'l then to bed, 

Farre more then night bewearied. 

EE'ST thou that Cloud as 

silver cleare, 

Plump, soft, & swelling everywhere? 

'Tis Julia's Bed, and she sleeps there. 

OME with the Spring-time 

forth Fair Maid, and be 

This year again, the medows Deity. 

Yet ere ye enter, give us leave to set 
Upon your Head this f lowry Coronet : 
To make this neat distinction from the rest; 
You are the Prime, and Princesse of the Feast: 
To which, with silver feet lead you the way. 
While sweet-breath Nimphs, attend on you this Day. 
This is your houre; and best you may command, 
Since you are Lady of this Fairie land. 
Full mirth wait on you; and such mirth as shall 
Cherrish the cheek, but make none blush at all. 
80 





[ALL me no more, 

As heretofore, 

The musick of a Feast; 

, Since now (alas) 
The mirth, that was 
In me, is dead or ceast. 

Before I went 

To banishment 

Into the loathed West; 

I co'd rehearse 

A Lyrick verse. 

And speak it with the best. 

But time (Ai me) 

Has laid, I see, 

My Organ fast asleep; 

And turn'd my voice 

Into the noise 

Of those that sit and weep. 

[HESE Summer-Birds did with thy master stay 
The times of warmth; but then they flew away; 
, Leaving their Poet (being now grown old) 
Expos'd to all the comming Winters cold. 
But thou kind Prew did'st with my fates abide. 
As well the Winter's, as the Summer's Tide: 
For which thy love, live with thy master here, 
Not one, but all the seasons of the yeare. 

ROLLICK Virgins once these were. 
Over-loving, (living here:) 
Being here their ends deny'd 
li^Ranne for Sweet-hearts mad, and di'd. 
Love in pitie of their teares, 
And their losse in blooming yeares; 

81 



HESPERIDES 

His Lachrimse 
or Mirth, 
turn'd to 
mourning 




To his 
Maid Prew 




How Pansies 
or Hart-ease 
came first 



HESPERIDES 



For their restlesse here-spent houres, 
Gave them Hearts-ease turn'd to flow'rs. 



Upon Electra 



The Mad 
Maid's Song 




HEN out of bed my Love doth spring, 

'Tis but as day a-kindling : 

But when She's up and fully drest, 

'Tis then broad Day throughout the East. 

OOD morrow to the Day 'so fair; 
Good morning Sir to you: 
Good morrow to mine own torn hair 
Bedabbled with the dew. 

Good morning to this Prim-rose too; 
Good morrow to each maid; 
That will with flowers the Tomb bestrew, 
Wherein my Love is laid. 

Ah! woe is mee, woe, woe is me, 
Alack and welladay ! 
For pitty, Sir, find out that Bee, 
Which bore my Love away. 

rie seek him in your Bonnet brave; 
He seek him in your eyes; 
Nay, now I think th'ave made his grave 
I'th'bed of strawburies. 

He seek him there; I know, ere this. 
The cold, cold Earth doth shake him; 
But I will go, or send a kisse 
By you, Sir, to awake him. 

Pray hurt him not; though he be dead. 
He knowes well who do love him, 
And who with green-turfes reare his head, 
And who do rudely move him. 
82 



He's soft and tender (Pray take heed) 
With bands of Cow-slips bind him; 
And bring him home; but 'tis decreed, 
That I shall never find him. 





'ELL, if thou canst (and truly) whence doth come 
This Camphire, Storax, Spiknard, Galbanum: 
^ These Musks, these Ambers, and those other smells 
(Sweet as the Vestrie of the Oracles.) 

He tell thee; while my Julia did unlace 

Her silken bodies, but a breathing space: 

The passive Aire such odour then assum'd. 

As when to Jove Great Juno goes perfum'd. 

Whose pure-Immortall body doth transmit 

A scent, that fills both Heaven and Earth with it. 

[AD are the times. SIL. And wors 

'then they are we. 

|MON. Troth, bad are both; worse fruit, 

land ill the tree: 
The feast of Shepheards fail. SIL. None crowns the cup 
Of Wassaile now, or sets the quintell up : 
And He, who us'd to leade the Country -round, 
YouthfuU Mirtillo, Here he comes, Grief-drownd. 
AMBO. Lets cheer him up. SIL. Behold 
him weeping ripe. 

MIRT. Ah! Amarillis, farewell mirth and pipe; 
Since thou art gone, no more I mean to play, 
To these smooth Lawns, my mirthfull Roundelay. 
Dear Amarillis! MON. Hark! SIL. mark: 
MIR. this earth grew sweet 
Where, Amarillis, Thou didst set thy feet. 
AMBO . Poor pittied youth ! MIR. And here the breth of kine 
And sheep, grew more sweet, by that breth of Thine. 
This flock of wooU, and this rich lock of hair, 

83 



HESPERIDES 



Upon Julia's 
unlacing 
her self 



A Pastorall 
sung to the 
King: 

Montano, 
Silvio, and 
Mirtillo, 
Shepheards 



HESPERIDES 

A Pastorall 
sung to the 
King 



This ball of Cow-slips, these she gave me here. 

SIL. Words sweet as Love it self. MONTANO, Hark. 

MIRT, This way she came, and this way too she went; 

How each thing smells divinely redolent! 

Like to a field of beans, when newly blown; 

Or like a medow being lately mown. 

MONT. A sweet-sad passion. — 

MIRT. In dewie-mornings when she came this way, 

Sweet Bents wode bow, to give my Love the day: 

And when at night, she folded had her sheep, 

Daysies wo'd shut, and closing, sigh and weep. 

Besides (Ai me!) since she went hence to dwell, 

The voices Daughter nea'r spake syllable. 

But she is gone. SIL. Mirtillo, tell us whether: 

MIRT. Where she and I shall never meet together. 

MONT. Fore-fend it Pan, and Pales do thou please 

To give an end: MIR. To what? SIL. such 

griefs as these. 

MIRT. Never, O never! Still I may endure 

The wound I suffer, never find a cure. 

MONT. Love for thy sake will bring her to these hills 

And dales again: MIR. No, I will languish still; 

And all the while my part shall be to weepe; 

And with my sighs, call home my bleating sheep: 

And in the Rind of every comely tree 

He carve thy name, and in that name kisse thee: 

MONT. Set with the Sunne, thy woes; 

SIL, The day grows old: 

And time it is our full-fed flocks to fold. 

CHOR. The shades grow great; but greater 

growes our sorrow, 

But lets go steepe 

Our eyes in sleepe; 

And meet to weepe 

To morrow. 

84 





I AST night thou didst invite me home to eate; HESPERIDES 
And shew'st me there much Plate, 

but little meate. Upon 

Prithee, when next thou do'st invite, barre State, Shewbread. 

And give me meate, or give me else thy Plate. Epig . 

HUT not so soon; the duU-ey'd night To Daisies, 

Ha's not as yet begunne not to shut 

To make a seisure on the light, so soone 
Or to seale up the Sun. 

No Marigolds yet closed are; 

No shadowes great appeare; 

Nor doth the early Shepheards Starre 

Shine like a spangle here. 

Stay but till my Julia close 

Her life-begetting eye; 

And let the whole world then dispose 

It selfe to live or dye. 

[EE pretty Huswives, wo'd ye know To the little 

The worke that I wo'd put ye to? Spinners 

This, this it shod be, for to spin, 
A Lawn for me, so fine and thin. 

As it might serve me for my skin. 

For cruell Love ha's me so whipt, 

That of my skin, I all am stript; 

And shall dispaire, that any art 

Can ease the rawnesse, or the smart; 

Unlesse you skin again each part. 

"Which mercy if you will but do, 

I call all Maids to witnesse too 

What here I promise, that no Broom 

Shall now or ever after come 

To wrong a Spinner or her Loome. 

85 




HESPERIDES 

Oberon's 
Palace 




FTER the Feast (my Shapcot) see, 
The Fairie Court I give to thee: 
Where we'le present our Oberon, led 
Halfe tipsie to the Fairie Bed, 

Where Mab he finds; who there doth lie 

Not without mickle majesty. 

Which done; and thence remov'd the light, 

We'l wish both Them and Thee, good night. 

FULL AS A BEE WITH THYME, AND RED, 
As Cherry harvest, now high fed 
For Lust and action; on he'l go, 
To lye with Mab, though all say no. 
Lust has no eare's; He's sharpe as thorn; 
And fretfuU, carries Hay in's home. 
And lightning in his eyes; and flings 
Among the Elves, (if mov'd) the stings 
Of peltish wasps ; well know his Guard 
Kings though th'are hated, will be fear'd. 
Wine lead[s] him on. Thus to a Grove 
(Sometimes devoted unto Love) 
Tinseld with Twilight, He, and They 
Led by the shine of Snails, a way 
Beat with their num'rous feet, which by 
Many a neat perplexity, 
Many a turn, and man' a crosse- 
Track they redeem a bank of mosse 
Spungie and swelling, and farre more 
Soft then the finest Lemster Ore. 
Mildly disparkling, like those fiers, 
Which break from the Injeweld tyres 
Of curious Brides; or like those mites 
Of Candi'd dew in Moony nights. 
Upon this Convex, all the flowers, 
(Nature begets by th' Sun, and showers,) 
86 



Are to a wilde digestion brought, HESPERIDES 

As if Love's Sampler here was wrought: 

Or Citherea's Ceston, which Oberon's 

All with temptation doth bewitch. Palace 

Sweet Aires move here; and more divine 
Made by the breath of great-ey'd kine, 
Who as they lowe, empearl with milk 
The four-leav'd grasse, or mosse, like silk. 
The breath of Munkies met to mix 
"With Musk-flies, are th' Aromaticks 
Which cense this Arch ; and here and there. 
And farther off, and every where, 
Throughout that Brave Mosaick yard 
Those Picks or Diamonds in the Card : 
With peeps of Harts, of Club and Spade, 
Are here most neatly inter-laid. 
Many a Counter, many a Die, 
Half rotten, and without an eye. 
Lies here abouts; and for to pave 
The excellency of this Cave, 
Squirrils and childrens teeth late shed, 
Are neatly here exchequered. 
With brownest Toadstones, and the gum 
That shines upon the blewer Plum, 
The nails fain off by Whit-flawes : Art's 
Wise hand enchasing here those warts, 
Which we to others (from our selves) 
Sell, and brought hither by the Elves, 
The tempting Mole, stoln from the neck 
Of the shie Virgin, seems to deck 
The holy Entrance; where within 
The roome is hung with the blew skin 
Of shifted Snake: enfreez'd throughout 
With eyes of Peacocks Trains, & Trout- 
flies curious wings; and these among 

87 



HESPERIDES Those silver-pence, that cut the tongue 
Of the red infant, neatly hung, 
Oberon's The glow-wormes eyes ; the shining scales 

Palace Of silv'rie fish ; wheat-strawes, the snailes 

Soft Candle-light; the Kitling's eyne; 
Corrupted wood; serve here for shine. 
No glaring light of bold-fac't Day, 
Or other over-radiant Ray 
Ransacks this roome; but what weak beams 
Can make reflected from these jems, 
And multiply; Such is the light, 
But ever doubtfuU Day, or night. 
By this quaint Taper-light he winds 
His Errours up ; and now he finds 
His Moon-tann'd Mab, as somewhat sick, 
And (Love knowes) tender as a chick. 
Upon six plump Dandillions, high- 
Rear'd, lyes her Elvish-ma jestie: 
Whose wooUie-bubbles seem'd to drowne 
Hir Mab-ship in obedient Downe. 
For either sheet, was spread the Caule 
That doth the Infants face enthrall, 
When it is born: (by some enstyl'd 
The luckie Omen of the child) 
And next to these two blankets ore- 
Cast of the finest Gossamore. 
And then a Rug of carded wooll, 
Which, Spunge-like drinking in the dull- 
Light of the Moon, seem'd to comply, 
Cloud-like, the daintie Deitie. 
Thus soft she lies: and over-head 
A Spinners circle is bespread. 
With Cob -web -curtains: from the roof 
So neatly sunck, as that no proof 
Of any tackling can declare 
88 



What gives it hanging in the Aire, HESPERIDES 

The Fringe about this, are those Threds 

Broke at the Losse of Maiden-heads: Oberon's 

And all behung with these pure Pearls, Palace 

Dropt from the eyes of ravisht Girles 

Or writhing Brides: when (panting) they 

Give unto Love the straiter way. 

For Musick now; He has the cries 

Of fained-lost- Virginities ; 

The which the Elves make to excite 

A more unconquer'd appetite. 

The King's undrest; and now upon 

The Gnat's-watch-word the Elves are gone. 

And now the bed, and Mab possest 

Of this great-little-kingly-Guest; 

We'll nobly think, what's to be done, 

He'll do no doubt; This flax is spun. 

'HAT Conscience, say, is it in thee To Oenone 

When I a Heart had one, 

To Take away that Heart from me, 

And to retain Thy own? 

For shame or pitty now encline 
To play a loving part; 
Either to send me kindly thine. 
Or give me back my heart. 

Covet not both; but if thou dost 
Resolve to part with neither; 
Why ! yet to shew that thou art just, 
Take me and mine together. 

EE silent shades, whose each tree here To Groves 

Some Relique of a Saint doth weare : 
Who for some sweet-hearts sake, did prove 
The fire, and martyrdome of love. 

89 





HESPERIDES 
To Groves 



Here is the Legend of those Saints 

That di'd for love; and their complaints: 

Their wounded hearts : and names we find 

Encarv'd upon the Leaves and Rind. 

Give way, give way to me, who come 

Scorch't with the selfe-same martyrdome: 

And have deserv'd as much 

(Love knowes) 

As to be canoniz'd 'mongst those. 

Whose deeds, and death here written are 

Within your Greenie-Kalendar: 

By all those Virgins' Fillets hung 

Upon your Boughs, and Requiems sung 

For Saints and Soules departed hence, 

(Here honour 'd still with Frankincense) 

By all those teares that have 

been shed. 

As a Drink-offering, to the dead : 

By all those True-love-knots, that be 

With Motto's carv'd on every tree. 

By sweet S. Phillis; pitie me: 

By deare S. Iphis; and the rest. 

Of all those other Saints now blest; 

Me, me, forsaken, here admit 

Among your Mirtles to be writ: 

That my poore name may 

have the glory 

To live remembred in your story. 



An Epitaph 
upon a 
Virgin 



jERE a solemne Fast we keepe, 
While all beauty lyes asleep 
jHusht be all things; (no noyse here) 
But the toning of a teare: 

Or a sigh of such as bring 

Cowslips for her covering. 
90 





\ O hence, and with this parting kisse, 
"Which joyns two souls, remember this; 
Though thou beest young, kind, 
soft, and faire. 

And may'st draw thousands with a haire: 

Yet let these glib temptations be 

Furies to others, Friends to me. 

Looke upon all; and though on fire 

Thou set'st their hearts, let chaste desire 

Steer e Thee to me; and thinke (me gone) 

In having all, that thou hast none. 

Nor so immured wo'd I have 

Thee live, as dead and in thy grave; 

But walke abroad, yet wisely well 

Stand for my comming, Sentinell. 

And think (as thou do'st walke the street) 

Me, or my shadow thou do'st meet. 

I know a thousand greedy eyes 

Will on thy Feature tirannize, 

In my short absence; yet behold 

Them like some Picture, or some Mould 

Fashion'd like Thee; which though 'tave eares 

And eyes, it neither sees or heares. 

Gifts will be sent, and Letters, which 

Are the expressions of that itch, 

And salt, which frets thy Suters; fly 

Both, lest thou lose thy liberty : 

For that once lost, thou't fall to one, 

Then prostrate to a million. 

But if they wooe thee, do thou say, 

(As that chaste Queen of Ithaca 

Did to her suitors) this web done 

(Undone as oft as done) I'm wonne; 

I will not urge Thee, for I know, 

Though thou art young, thou canst say no, 

91 



HESPERIDES 

The parting 
Verse, or 
Charge to 
his supposed 
Wife when 
he travelled 



HESPERIDES 

The parting 
Verse, or 
Charge to 
his supposed 
Wife when 
he travelled 



And no again, and so deny, 
Those thy Lust-burning Incubi. 
Let them enstile Thee Fairest faire, 
The Pearle of Princes, yet despaire 
That so thou art, because thou must 
Believe, Love speaks it not, but Lust; 
And this their Flatt'rie do's commend 
Thee chiefly for their pleasure's end. 
I am not jealous of thy Faith, 
Or will be; for the Axiome saith, 
He that doth still suspect, do's haste 
A gentle mind to be unchaste. 
No, live thee to thy selfe, and keep 
Thy thoughts as cold, as is thy sleep: 
And let thy dreames be only fed 
With this, that I am in thy bed. 
And thou then turning in that Sphere, 
"Waking shalt find me sleeping there. 
But yet if boundlesse Lust must skaile 
Thy Fortress, and will needs prevaile; 
And wildy force a passage in. 
Banish consent, and 'tis no sinne 
Of Thine; so Lucrece fell, and the 
Chaste Syracusian Cyane. 
So MeduUina fell, yet none 
Of these had imputation 
For the least trespasse; 'cause the mind 
Here was not with the act combin'd. 
The body sins not, 'tis the Will 
That makes the Action, good, or ill. 
And if thy fall sho'd this way come, 
Triumph in such a Martirdome. 
I will not over-long enlarge 
To thee, this my religious charge. 
Take this compression, so by this 
92 



Means, I shall know what other kisse 

Is mixt with mine; and truly know, 

Returning, if 't be mine or no: 

Keepe it till then; and now my Spouse, 

For my wisht safety pay thy vowes, 

And prayers to Venus; if it please 

The great-blew-ruler of the seas; 

Not many fuU-fac't-moons shall waine, 

Lean-horn'd, before I come again 

As one triumphant; when I find 

In thee, all faith of Woman-kind. 

Nor wo'd I have thee thinke, that Thou 

Had'st power thy selfe to keepe this vow; 

But having scapt temptation's shelfe, 

Know vertue taught thee, not thy selfe. 

AIRE pledges of a fruitful! Tree, 

Why do yee fall so fast? 

Your date is not so past; 

But you may stay yet here a while. 
To blush and gently smile; 
And go at last. 

What, were yee borne to be 

An houre or half's delight; 

And so to bid goodnight? 

'Twas pitie Nature brought yee forth 

Merely to shew your worth, 

And lose you quite. 

But you are lovely Leaves, where we 
May read how soon things have 
Their end, though ne'r so brave: 
And after they have shown their pride, 
Like you a while: They glide 
Into the Grave. 

93 



HESPERIDES 

The parting 
Verse, or 
Charge to 
his supposed 
wife when 
he travelled 




To Blossoms 



HESPERIDES 

The 
Wassaile 




IVE way, give way 

ye Gates, and win 

An easie blessing to your Bin, 

And Basket, by our entring in. 

May both with manchet stand repleat; 
Your Larders too so hung with meat. 
That though a thousand, thousand eat; 

Yet, ere twelve Moons shall whirl about 
Their silv'rie Spheres, ther's none may doubt, 
But more's sent in, then was serv'd out. 

Next, may your Dairies Prosper so. 
As that your Pans no Ebbe may know; 
But if they do, the more to flow. 

Like to a solemne sober Stream 
Bankt all with Lillies and the Cream 
Of sweetest Cow-slips filling Them. 

Then, may your Plants be prest with Fruit, 
Nor Bee, or Hive you have be mute; 
But sweetly sounding like a Lute. 

Next may your Duck and teeming Hen 
Both to the Cock's-tread, say Amen; 
And for their two egs render ten. 

Last, may your Harrows, Shares and Ploughes, 
Your Stacks, your Stocks, your sweetest Mowes, 
All prosper by our Virgin-vowes. 

Alas! we blesse, but see none here, 
That brings us either Ale or Beere; 
In a drie-house all things are neere. 

Lets leave a longer Time to wait, 
Where Rust and Cobwebs, bind the gate; 
And all live here with needy Fate. 
94 




Where chimneys do for ever weepe, HESPERIDES 

For want of warmth, and stomachs keepe 
"With noise, the servants eyes from sleep. 

It is in vain to sing, or stay 

Our free feet here; but we'l away: 

Yet to the Lares this we'l say. 

The time will come, when you'l be sad 
And reckon this for fortune bad, 
T'ave lost the good ye might have had. 

[HESE Springs were Maidens once that lov'd, How Springs 

1 But lost to that, they most approv'd: came first 

My Story tels, by Love they were 
Turn'd to these Springs, which we see here; 

The pretty whimpering that they make, 

When of the Banks their leave they take; 

Tels yee but this, they are the same. 

In nothing chang'd but in their name. 

[EW sate on Julia's haire, Upon Julia's 

I And spangled too, haire fill'd 

Like leaves that laden are with Dew 

iWith trembling Dew: 

Or glitter'd to my sight. 

As when the Beames 

Have their reflected light, 

Daunc't by the Streames. 

jOW can I choose but love, and follow her, Another on 

Whose shadow smels like Jicr 

I milder Pomander! 

. How can I chuse but kisse 
her, whence do's come 

The Storax, Spiknard, Myrrhe, and Ladanum. 

95 





HESPERIDES 

Losse from 
the least 

Reward and 
punishments 



Upon 
himselfe 



Fresh Cheese 
and Cream 




REAT men by small meanes 
oft are overthrown: 
He's Lord of thy life, who 
contemnes his own. 

LL things are open to 
these two events, 
Or to Rewards, or else 
to Punishments, 

CO'D never love indeed; 

Never see mine own heart bleed: 

Never crucifie my life; 

Or for Widow, Maid, or Wife. 

I co'd never seeke to please 
One, or many Mistresses: 
Never like their lips, to sweare 
Oyle of Roses still smelt there. 

I co'd never breake my sleepe. 
Fold mine Armes, sob, sigh, or weep: 
Never beg, or humbly wooe 
With oathes, and lyes, (as others do.) 

I co'd never walke alone; 

Put a shirt of sackcloth on: ^ 

Never keep a fast, or pray 

For good luck in love (that day). 

But have hitherto liv'd free, 
As the aire that circles me: 
And kept credit with my heart, 
Neither broke i' th' whole, or part. 

O'D yee have fresh Cheese and Cream? 
lulia's Breast can give you them: 
And if more; Each Nipple cries. 
To your Cream, her[e]'s Strawberries. 
96 





;H! Lycidas, come tell me why HESPERIDES 
Thy whilome merry Oate 

jBy thee doth so neglected lye; An Eclogue, 

, And never purls a note? or Pastorall 

I prithee speake: LYC. I will. END. Say on: ^^^"^^^.^ 

LYC. 'Tis thou, and only thou, ^ndimion 

That art the cause, Endimion; j ^^ .^ ^ 

END. For Loves-sake, tell me how. tj.^^ , 

Herrick, set 

LYC. In this regard, that thou do'st play and sung 

Upon another Plain: 

And for a Rurall Roundelay, 

Strik'st now a Courtly strain. 

Thou leav'st our Hills, our Dales, our Bowers, 
Our finer fleeced sheep : 
(Unkind to us) to spend thine houres, 
Where Shepheards sho'd not keep. 

I meane the Court: Let Latmos be 
My lov'd Endymion's Court; 
END. But I the Courtly State wo'd see: 
LYC. Then see it in report. 

What ha's the Court to do with Swaines, 
Where Phillis is not known? 
Nor do's it mind the Rustick straines 
Of us, or Coridon, 

Breake, if thou lov'st us, this delay; 
END. Dear Lycidas, e're long, 
I vow by Pan, to come away 
And Pipe unto thy Song. 

Then Jessimine, with Florabell; 
And dainty Amarillis, 
With handsome-handed Drosomell 
Shall pranke thy Hooke with Lillies. 

97 



HESPERIDES 

An Eclogue, 
or Pastorall 
between 
Endimion 
Porter and 
Lycidas 
Herrick, set 
and sung 



To a Bed of 

Tulips 



To the Water 
Nymphs, 
drinking at 
the Fountain 




LYC. Then Tityrus, and Coridon, 
And Thyrsis, they shall follow 
"With all the rest; while thou alone 
Shalt lead, like young Apollo. 

And till thou com'st, thy Lycidas, 
In every Geniall Cup, 
Shall write in Spice, Endimion 'twas 
That kept his Piping up. 

And my most luckie Swain, when I shall live to see 
Endimions Moon to fill up full, remember me: 
Mean time, let Lycidas have leave to Pipe to thee. 

RIGHT Tulips, we do know. 
You had your comming hither; 
And Fading-time do's show. 
That Ye must quickly wither. 

Your Sister-hoods may stay. 
And smile here for your houre; 
But dye ye must away : 
Even as the meanest Flower. 

Come Virgins then, and see 
Your frailties; and bemone ye; 
For lost like these, 'twill be, 
As Time had never known ye. 

EACH, with your whiter hands, to me, 
Some Christall of the Spring; 
And I, about the Cup shall see 
Fresh Lillies flourishing. 

Or else sweet Nimphs do you but this; 
To 'th' Glasse your lips encline; 
And I shall see by that one kisse, 
The Water turn'd to Wine. 
98 





GOLDEN Flie one shew'd to me, HESPERIDES 

Clos'd in a Box of Yvorie: 

Where both seem'd proud; Upon a Flie 

the Flie to have 
His buriall in an yvory grave 
The yvorie tooke State to hold 
A Corps as bright as burnisht gold. 
One Fate had both; both equall Grace; 
The Buried, and the Burying-place. 
Not Virgil's Gnat, to whom the Spring 
All Flowers sent to 'is burying; 
Not Marshal's Bee, which in a Bead 
Of Amber quick was buried; 
Nor that fine Worme that do's interre 
Her self e i' th' silken Sepulchre; 
Nor my rare Phil, that lately was 
With Lillies Tomb'd up in a Glasse; 
More honour had, then this same Flie; 
Dead, and closed up in Yvorie. 

OME thou, who art His Winding- 

the Wine, and wit sheet 

j Of all I've writ: 

[The Grace, the Glorie, 
and the best 
Piece of the rest. 
Thou art of what I did intend 
The All, and End. 

And what was made, was made to meet 
Thee, thee my sheet 
Come then, and be to my chast side 
Both Bed, and Bride. 
We two (as Reliques left) will have 
One Rest, one Grave. 
And, hugging close, we will not feare 

99 




HESPERIDES 

His Winding- 
sheet 



Lust entring here: 
Where all Desires are dead, or cold 
As is the mould: 
And all Affections are forgot, 
Or Trouble not. 

Here, here the Slaves and Pris'ners be 
From Shackles free: 
And Weeping Widowes long opprest 
Doe here find rest. 
The wronged Client ends his Lawes 
Here, and his Cause. 
Here those long suits of Chancery lie 
Quiet, or die: 

And all Star-chamber-Bils doe cease, 
Or hold their peace. 
Here needs no Court for our Request, 
Where all are best; 
All wise; all equall; and all just 
Alike i'th' dust. 

Nor need we here to feare the frowne 
Of Court, or Crown. 

Where Fortune bears no sway o're things, 
There all are Kings. 
In this securer place we'l keep, 
As luU'd asleep; 
Or for a little time we'l lye. 
As Robes laid by; 
To be another day re-worne, 
Turn'd, but not torn: 
Or like old Testaments ingrost, 
Lockt up, not lost: 
And for a while lye here conceal'd. 
To be reveal'd 

Next, at that great Platonick yeere. 
And then meet here. 
100 




|IVE, live with me, and thou shalt see HESPERIDES 

[The pleasures He prepare for thee: 

What sweets the Country can afford To Phillis to 

, Shall blesse thy Bed, and blesse thy Board. love, and live 

The soft sweet Mosse shall be thy bed, with him 

"With crawling Woodbine over-spread: 
By which the silver-shedding streames 
Shall gently melt thee into dreames. 
Thy clothing next, shall be a Gowne 
Made of the Fleeces' purest Downe. 
The tongues of Kids shall be thy meate; 
Their Milke thy drinke; and thou shalt eate 
The Paste of Filberts for thy bread 
With Cream of Cowslips buttered : 
Thy Feasting-Tables shall be Hills 
With Daisies spread, and Daffadils; 
Where thou shalt sit, and Red-brest by, 
For meat, shall give thee melody. 
He give thee Chaines and Carkanets 
Of Primroses and Violets. 
A Bag and Bottle thou shalt have; 
That richly wrought, and This as brave; 
So that as either shall expresse 
The Wearer's no meane Shepheardesse. 
At Sheering-times, and yearely Wakes, 
When Themilis his pastime makes. 
There thou shalt be; and be the wit, 
Nay more, the Feast, and grace of it. 
On Holy-dayes, when Virgins meet 
To dance the Heyes with nimble feet; 
Thou shalt come forth, and then appeare 
The Queen of Roses for that yeere. 
And having danc't ('bove all the best) 
Carry the Garland from the rest. 
In Wicker-baskets Maids shal bring 

101 



HESPERIDES 

To Phillis to 
love, and live 
with him 



Upon his 
gray haires 



To 
Marygolds 



To thee, (my dearest Shephar[d]ling) 

The blushing Apple, bashfull Peare, 

And shame-fac't Plum, (all simp'ring there): 

Walk in the Groves, and thou shalt find 

The name of Phillis in the Rind 

Of every straight, and smooth-skin tree; 

Where kissing that. He twice kisse thee. 

To thee a Sheep-hook I will send, 

Be-pranckt with Ribbands, to this end, 

This, this alluring Hook might be 

Lesse for to catch a sheep, then me. 

Thou shalt have Possets, Wassails fine, 

Not made of Ale, but spiced Wine; 

To make thy Maids and selfe free mirth, 

All sitting neer the glitt'ring Hearth. 

Thou sha't have Ribbands, Roses, Rings, 

Gloves, Garters, Stockings, Shooes, and Strings 

Of winning Colours, that shall move 

Others to Lust, but me to Love. 

These (nay) and more, thine own shal be, 

If thou wilt love, and live with me. 

LY me not, though I be gray, 

Lady, this I know you'l say; 

Better look the Roses red, 
Li^ When with white commingled. 
Black your haires are; mine are white; 
This begets the more delight. 
When things meet most opposite: 
As in Pictures we descry, 
Venus standing Vulcan by. 

IVE way, and be ye ravisht by the Sun, 
(And hang the head when as the Act is done) 
Spread as He spreads; wax lesse as He do's wane; 
And as He shuts, close up to Maids again. 
102 






jERE we securely live, and eate HESPERIDES 

The Creame of meat; 

I And keep eternal fires, An Ode to 

By which we sit, and doe Divine Sir Clipsebie 

As "Wine Crew 
And Rage inspires. 

If full we charme; then call upon 

Anacreon 

To grace the frantick Thyrse: 

And having drunk, we raise a shout 

Throughout 

To praise his Verse. 

Then cause we Horace to be read, 

"Which sung, or seyd, 

A Goblet, to the brim. 

Of Lyrick Wine, both swell'd and crown'd, 

A Round 

We quaff e to him. 

Thus, thus, we live, and spend the houres 

In "Wine and Flowers: 

And make the frollick yeere. 

The Month, the Week, the instant Day 

To stay 

The longer here. 

Come then, brave Knight, and see the Cell 

"Wherein I dwell; 

And my Enchantments too ; 

Which Love and noble freedome is; 

And this 

Shall fetter you. 

Take horse, and come; or be so kind. 
To send your mind 

103 



HESPERIDES 



His Content 
in the 
Country 



The Fairies 




(Though but in Numbers few) 
And I shall think I have the heart, 
Or part 
Of Clipseby Crew. 

ERE, here I live with what my Board, 

Can with the smallest cost afford. 

Though ne'er so mean 

the Viands be, 
They well content my Prew and me. 
Or Pea, or Bean, or Wort, or Beet, 
Whatever comes, content makes sweet: 
Here we rejoyce, because no Rent 
We pay for our poore Tenement: 
Wherein we rest, and never feare 
The Landlord, or the Usurer. 
The Quarter-day do's ne'r affright 
Our PeacefuU slumbers in the night. 
We eate our own, and batten more, 
Because we feed on no mans score: 
But pitie those, whose flanks grow great, 
Swel'd with the Lard of others meat. 
We blesse our Fortunes, when we see 
Our own beloved privacie: 
And like our living, where w'are known 
To very few, or else to none. 

' F ye will with Mab find grace, 
Set each Platter in his place: 
Rake the Fier up, and get 
Water in, ere Sun be set. 

Wash your Pailes, and dense your Dairies; 

Sluts are loathsome to the Fairies: 

Sweep your house: Who doth not so, 

Mab will pinch her by the toe. 
104 





'HEN I behold a Forrest spread 

With silken trees upon thy head; 

And when I see that other Dresse 

Of flowers set in comlinesse: 
When I behold another grace 
In the ascent of curious Lace, 
Which like a Pinacle doth shew 
The top, and the top-gallant too. 
Then, when I see thy Tresses bound 
Into an Ovall, square, or round; 
And knit in knots far more then I 
Can tell by tongue; or true-love tie: 
Next, when those Lawnie Filmes I see 
Play with a wild civility : 
And all those airie silks to flow, 
Alluring me, and tempting so : 
I must conf esse, mine eye and heart 
Dotes less on Nature, then on Art 

CANNOT pipe as I was wont to do, 
Broke is my Reed, hoarse is my singing too: 
My wearied Oat He hang upon the Tree, 
And give it to the Silvan Deitie. 

OME then, and like two Doves 

with silv'rie wings. 

Let our soules flie to' th' shades, 

where ever springs 
Sit smiling in the Meads; where Balme and Oile, 
Roses and Cassia crown the untill'd soyle. 
Where no disease raignes, or infection comes 
To blast the Aire, but Amber-greece and Gums. 
This, that, and ev'ry Thicket doth transpire 
More sweet, then Storax from the hallowed fire: 
Where ev'ry tree a wealthy issue beares 

105 




HESPERIDES 

Art above 
Nature, 
to Julia 



The Poet hath 
lost his pipe 



The 

Apparition 
of his 
Mistresse 
calling him 
to Elizium. 
Desunt 
nonnuUa — 



HESPERIDES 

The 

Apparition 
of his 
Mistresse 
calling him 
to Elizium. 
Desunt 
nonnuUa — 



Of fragrant Apples, blushing Plums, or Peares : 
And all the shrubs, with sparkling spangles, shew 
Like Morning-Sun-shine tinsilling the dew. 
Here in green Meddowes sits eternall May, 
Purfling the Margents, while perpetuall Day 
So double gilds the Aire, as that no night 
Can ever rust th' Enamel of the light. 
Here, naked Younglings, handsome Striplings run 
Their Goales for Virgins' kisses; which when done, 
Then unto Dancing forth the learned Round 
Commixt they meet, with endlesse Roses crown'd. 
And here we'l sit on Primrose-banks, and see 
Love's Chorus led by Cupid; and we'l be 
Two loving followers too unto the Grove, 
"Where Poets sing the stories of our love. 
There thou shalt hear Divine Musseus sing 
Of Hero, and Leander; then He bring 
Thee to the Stand, where honour'd Homer reades 
His Odisees, and his high Iliades. 
About whose Throne the crowd of Poets throng 
To heare the incantation of his tongue: 
To Linus, then to Pindar; and that done, 
He bring thee Herrick to Anacreon, 
Quaffing his full-crown'd bowles of burning Wine, 
And in his Raptures speaking Lines of Thine, 
Like to His subject; and as his Frantick- 
Looks, shew him truly Bacchanalian like, 
Besmear'd with Grapes; welcome he shall thee thither, 
Where both may rage, both drink and dance together. 
Then stately Virgil, witty Ovid, by 
Whom faire Corinna sits, and doth comply 
With Yvorie wrists, his Laureat head, and steeps 
His eye in dew of kisses, while he sleeps. 
Then soft Catullus, sharp-fang'd Martial, 
And towring Lucan, Horace, Juvenal, 
106 



And Snakie Perseus, these, and those, whom Rage 

(Dropt from the jarres of heaven) fill'd t' engage 

AH times unto their frenzies; Thou shalt there 

Behold them in a spacious Theater. 

Among which glories, (crown'd with sacred Bayes. 

And flatt'ring Ivie) Two recite their Plaies, 

Beumont and Fletcher, Swans, to whom all eares 

Listen, while they (like Syrens in their Spheres) 

Sing their Evadne; and still more for thee 

There yet remaines to know, then thou can'st see 

By glim'ring of a fancie: Doe but come. 

And there He shew thee that capacious roome 

In which thy Father Johnson now is plac't, 

As in a Globe of Radiant fire, and grac't 

To be in that Orbe crown'd (that doth include 

Those Prophets of the former Magnitude) 

And he one chief e; But harke, I heare the Cock, 

(The Bell-man of the night) proclaime the clock 

Of late struck one; and now I see the prime 

Of Day break from the pregnant East, 'tis time 

I vanish; more I had to say; 

But Night determines here, Away. 

SKE me why I send you here 

This sweet Infanta of the yeere? 

Aske me why I send to you 

This Primrose, thus bepearl'd with dew? 
I will whisper to your eares. 
The sweets of Love are mixt with tears. 

Ask me why this flower do's show 
So yellow-green, and sickly too? 
Ask me why the stalk is weak 
And bending (yet it doth not break?) 
I will answer. These discover 
What fainting hopes are in a Lover. 

107 




HESPERIDES 

The 

Apparition 
of his 
Mistresse 
calling him 
to Elizium. 
Desunt 
nonnulla — 



The Primrose 



HESPERIDES 
To Julia 



On himself e 



His Prayer to 
Ben Johnson 



The bad 
season makes 
the Poet sad 





HE Saints-bell calls; and, Julia, I must read 
The Proper Lessons for the Saints now dead: 
To grace which Service, Julia, there shall be 
One Holy Collect, said or sung for Thee. 
Dead when thou art, Deare Julia, thou shalt have 
A Tentrall sung by Virgins o're thy Grave: 
Meantime we too will sing the Dirge of these; 
Who dead, deserve our best remembrances. 

IVE by the Muse thou shalt; when others die, 
Leaving no Fame to long Posterity : 
When Monarchies trans-shifted are, and gone; 
Here shall endure thy vast Dominion. 

HEN I a Verse shall make, 
Know I have praid thee, 
For old Religion's sake, 
Saint Ben to aide me. 

Make the way smooth for me. 
When I, thy Herrick, 
Honouring thee, on my knee 
Offer my Lyrick, 

Candles lie give to thee. 
And a new Altar; 
And thou Saint Ben, shalt be 
Writ in my Psalter. 

!ULL to my selfe, and almost dead to these 
I My many fresh and fragrant Mistresses : 
Lost to all Musick now; since every thing 
I Puts on the semblance here of sorrowing, 
Sick is the Land to' th' heart; and doth endure 
More dangerous faintings by her desp'rate cure. 
But if that golden Age wo'd come again. 
And Charles here Rule, as he before did Raign; 
108 





If smooth and unperplext the Seasons were, HESPERIDES 

As when the Sweet Maria lived here: 

I sho'd delight to have my Curies halfe drown'd 

In Tyrian Dewes, and Head with Roses crown'd. 

And once more yet (ere I am laid out dead) 

Knock at a Starre with my exalted Head. 

OME sit we under yonder Tree, To the Maids 

Where merry as the Maids we'l be. to walke 

And as on Primroses we sit, abroad 

We'l venter (if we can) at wit: 

If not, at Draw-gloves we will play; 

So spend some minutes of the day: 

Or else spin out the thread of sands, 

Playing at Questions and Commands: 

Or tell what strange Tricks Love can do. 

By quickly making one of two. 

Thus we will sit and talke; but tell 

No cruell truths of Philomell, 

Or Phillis, whom hard Fate f orc't on, 

To kill her selfe for Demophon. 

But Fables we'l relate; how Jove 

Put on all shapes to get a Love: 

As now a Satyr, then a Swan ; 

A Bull but then; and now a man. 

Next we will act, how young men wooe; 

And sigh, and kiss, as Lovers do: 

And talke of Brides; & who shall make 

That wedding-smock, this Bridal-Cake; 

That Dress, this Sprig, that Leaf, this Vine; 

That smooth and silken Columbine. 

This done, we'l draw lots, who shall buy 

And guild the Baies and Rosemary: 

What Posies for our Wedding Rings; 

What gloves we'l give, and Ribanings : 

109 



HESPERIDES 



And smiling at our selves, decree, 
Who then the joyning Priest shall be. 
What short sweet Prayers shall be said; 
And how the Posset shall be made 
With Cream of Lillies (not of Kine) 
And Maiden's-blush, for spiced wine. 
Thus, having talkt, we'l next commend 
A kiss to each; and so we'l end. 



A Nuptiall 
Verse to 
Mistresse 
Elizabeth 
Lee, now 
Lady Tracie 




I PRING with the Larke, most comely Bride and meet 
Your eager Bridegroome with auspitious feet. 
The Morn's farre spent; and the immortall Sunne 
Corrols his cheeke, to see those Rites not done. 

Fie, Lovely maid! Indeed you are too slow. 

When to the Temple Love shod runne, not go. 

Dispatch your dressing then; and quickly wed: 

Then feast, and coy't a little; then to bed. 

This day is Love's day; and this busie night 

Is yours, in which you challeng'd are to fight 

With such an arm'd, but such an easie Foe, 

As will if you yeeld, lye down conquer'd too. 

The Field is pitch't; but such must be your warres, 

As that your kisses must out-vie the Starres. 

Fall down together vanquisht both, and lye 

Drown'd in the bloud of Rubies there, not die. 



The Night- 
piece, to Julia 




I ER Eyes the Glow-worme lend thee. 
The Shooting Starres attend thee; 

, And the Elves also, 
Whose little eyes glow 
Like the sparks of fire, befriend thee. 

No Will-o'-th'-Wispe mis-light thee; 
Nor Snake, or Slow-worme bite thee: 
But on, on thy way 
110 




Not making a stay, HESPERIDES 

Since Ghost ther's none to affright thee. 

Let not the darke thee cumber; 

What though the Moon do's slumber? 

The Starres of the night 

Will lend thee their light, 

Like Tapers cleare without number. 

Then Julia let me wooe thee. 
Thus, thus to come unto me: 
And when I shall meet 
Thy silv'ry feet. 
My soule Tie poure into thee. 

EAREST of thousands, nowthetimedrawes neere. His Charge to 
That with my Lines, my Life must full-stop here. Julia at his 
Cut off thy haires; and let thy Teares be shed Death 

I Over my Turfe, when I am buried. 

Then for effusions, let none wanting be, 

Or other Rites that doe belong to me; 

As Love shall helpe thee, when thou do'st go hence 

Unto thy everlasting residence. 

CHRIST ALL Violl Cupid brought, Upon Love 

Which had a juice in it: 

Of which who drank, he said no thought 

Of Love he sho'd admit. 

I greedy of the prize, did drinke, 
And emptied soon the glasse; 
Which burnt me so, that I do thinke 
The fire of hell it was. 

Give me my earthen Cups again, 

The Christall I contemne; 

Which, though enchas'd with Pearls, contain 

A deadly draught in them. 

Ill 




HESPERIDES And thou, O Cupid! come not to 
My Threshold, since I see, 
For all I have, or else can do; 
Thou still wilt cozen me. 

The Beggar A" /^Af LEASE your Grace, from 
to Mab, the rjf V^U out your Store, 
Fairie Queen \3 Ife^ Give an Almes to one 
y vC3^ that's poore, 
That your mickle, may have more. 
Black I'm grown for want of meat; 
Give me then an Ant to eate; 
Or the cleft eare of a Mouse 
Over-sowr'd in drinke of Souce: 
Or, sweet Lady, reach to me 
The Abdomen of a Bee; 
Or commend a Cricket's-hip, 
Or his Huckson, to my Scrip. 
Give me for bread, a little bit 
Of a Pease, that 'gins to chit, 
And my full thanks take for it. 
Floure of Fuz-balls, that's too good 
For a man in needy-hood: 
But the Meal of Mill-dust can 
Well content a craving man. 
Any Orts the Elves refuse 
Well will serve the Beggars use. 
But if this may seem too much 
For an Almes; then give me such 
Little bits, that nestle there 
In the Pris'ners Panier. 
So a blessing light upon 
You, and mighty Oberon: 
That your plenty last till when, 
I return your Almes agen, 
112 




ILED are the Frosts, and now HESPERIDES 

the Fields appeare 

' Re-cloth'd in fresh and Farewell 

verdant Diaper. Frost, or 

Thaw'd are the snowes, and now the lusty Spring welcome the 

Gives to each Mead a neat enameling. Spring 

The Palms put forth their Gemmes, and every Tree 
Now swaggers in her Leavy gallantry. 
The while the Daulian Minstrell sweetly sings 
With warbling Notes, her Tyrrean sufferings. 
What gentle Winds perspire? As if here 
Never had been the Northern Plunderer 
To strip the Trees, and Fields, to their distresse, 
Leaving them to a pittied nakednesse. 
And look how when a frantick Storme doth tear 
A stubborn Oake, or Holme (long growing there) 
But lul'd to calmnesse, then succeeds a breeze 
That scarcely stirs the nodding leaves of Trees: 
So when this War (which tempest-like doth spoil 
Our salt, our Corn, our Honie, Wine, and Oile) 
Falls to a temper, and doth mildly cast 
His inconsiderate Frenzie off (at last) 
The gentle Dove may, when these turmoils cease, 
Bring in her Bill, once more, the Branch of Peace. 

[HE Hag is astride, The Hag 

jThis night for to ride; 

^The Devill and shee together: 

> Through thick, and through thin, 
Now out, and then in. 
Though ne'r so f oule be the weather. 

A Thorn or a Burr 

She takes for a Spurre: 

With a lash of a Bramble she rides now. 

Through Brakes and through Bryars, 

113 




HESPERIDES 



To Silvia 



A 

Bacchanalian 

Verse 



O're Ditches and Mires, 
She foUowes the Spirit 
that guides now. 

No Beast, for his food. 

Dares now range the wood; 

But husht in his laire he lies lurking: 

While mischiefs, by these, 

On Land and on Seas, 

At noone of Night are a- working. 

The storme will arise, 

And trouble the skies; 

This night, and more for the wonder, 

The ghost from the Tomb 

Affrighted shal come, 

Cal'd out by the clap of the Thunder. 

AM holy, while I stand 
Circum-crost by thy pure hand; 
But when that is gone; Again, 
I, as others, am Prophane. 

ILL me a mighty Bowie 
Up to the brim: 
That I may drink 
Unto my Johnson's soule. 

Crowne it agen agen; 
And thrice repeat 
That happy heat; 
To drink to Thee my Ben. 

Well I can quaffe, I see, 
To th' number five. 
Or nine; but thrive 
In frenzie ne'r like thee. 
114 






LE sing no more, nor 

will I longer write 

Of that sweet Lady, or that 

gallant Knight: 
He sing no more of Frosts, Snowes, Dews 
and Showers; 

No more of Groves, Meades, Springs, and 
wreaths of Flowers: 
He write no more, nor will I tell or sing 
Of Cupid, and his wittie coozning : 
He sing no more of death, or shall the grave 
No more my Dirges, and my Trentalls have. 

' WEET Country life, to such unknown, 
"Whose lives are others', not their own! 
But serving Courts, and Cities, be 
Less happy, less enjoying thee. 
Thou never Plow'st the Ocean's foame 
To seek, and bring rough Pepper home: 
Nor to the Eastern Ind dost rove 
To bring from thence the scorched Clove. 
Nor, with the losse of thy lov'd rest, 
Bring'st home the Ingot from the West. 
No, thy Ambition's Master-piece 
Flies no thought higher then a fleece : 
Or how to pay thy Hinds, and cleere 
All scores; and so to end the yeere: 
But walk'st about thine own dear bounds, 
Not envying others larger grounds: 
For well thou know'st, 'tis not th' extent 
Of Land makes life, but sweet content. 
When now the Cock (the Plow-man's Home) 
Calls forth the lilly-wristed Morne; 
Then to thy corn-fields thou dost goe, 
Which though well soyl'd, yet thou dost know, 

115 



HESPERIDES 
On himselfe 



The Country 
life, to the 
honoured 
M. End. 
Porter, 
Groome of 
the Bed- 
chamber to 
His Maj. 



HESPERIDES 

The Country 
life, to the 
honoured 
M. End. 
Porter, 
Groome of 
the Bed- 
chamber to 
His Maj. 



That the best compost for the Lands 
Is the wise Masters Feet, and Hands. 
There at the Plough thou find'st thy Teame, 
With a Hind whistling there to them : 
And cheer'st them up, by singing how 
The Kingdoms portion is the Plow. 
This done, then to th' enameld Meads 
Thou go'st, and as thy foot there treads, 
Thou seest a present God-like Power 
Imprinted in each Herbe and Flower: 
And smell'st the breath of great-ey'd Kine, 
Sweet as the blossomes of the Vine. 
Here thou behold'st thy large sleek Neat 
Unto the Dew-laps up in meat 
And, as thou look'st, the wanton Steere, 
The Heifer, Cow, and Oxe draw neere 
To make a pleasing pastime there. 
These seen, thou go'st to view thy flocks 
Of sheep, (safe from the Wolfe and Fox) 
And find'st their bellies there as full 
Of short sweet grasse, as backs with wool. 
And leav'st them (as they feed and fill) 
A Shepherd piping on a hill. 
For Sports, for Pagentrie, and Playes, 
Thou hast thy Eves, and Holy day es: 
On which the young men and maids meet, 
To exercise their dancing feet: 
Tripping the comely country Round, 
With Daffadils and Daisies crown'd. 
Thy Wakes, thy Quintels, here thou hast. 
Thy May-poles too with Garlands grac't: 
Thy Morris-dance; thy Whitsun-ale; 
Thy Sheering-feast, which never faile. 
Thy Harvest home; thy Wassaile bowle. 
That's tost up after Fox i' th' Hole. 
116 



Thy Mummeries; thy Twelfe-tide Kings 

And Queenes; thy Christmas revellings: 

Thy Nut-browne mirth; thy Russet wit; 

And no man payes too deare for it. 

To these, thou hast thy times to goe 

And trace the Hare i' th' trecherous Snow: 

Thy witty wiles to draw, and get 

The Larke into the Trammell net: 

Thou hast thy Cockrood, and thy Glade 

To take the precious Phesant made: 

Thy Lime-twigs. Snares, and Pit-falls then 

To catch the pilfring Birds, not Men. 

O happy life! if that their good 

The Husbandman but understood ! 

Who all the day themselves doe please, 

And Younglings, with such sports as these. 

And, lying down, have nought t' affright 

Sweet sleep, that makes more short the night. 

Caetera desunt — 



HESPERIDES 

The Country 
life, to the 
honoured 
M. End. 
Porter, 
Groome of 
the Bed- 
chamber to 
His Maj. 




'DARE not ask a kisse; 
I dare not beg a smile; 
Lest having that or this, 
I might grow proud the while. 

No, no, the utmost share 
Of my desire, shall be 
Onely to kisse that Aire, 
That lately kissed thee. 

I E the Mistresse of my choice, 
Cleane in manners, cleere in voice: 
I Be she witty, more then wise; 
Pure enough, though not Precise: 

Be she shewing in her dresse, 

Like a civill Wilderness; 

117 



To Electra 




What kind of 
Mistresse he 
would have 



HESPERIDES 

What kind of 
Mistresse he 
would have 



A 

Paranaeticall, 
or Advisive 
Verse to his 
friend, M. 
John Wicks 




That the curious may detect 
Order in a sweet neglect: 
Be she rowling in her eye, 
Tempting all the passers by: 
And each Ringlet of her haire, 
An Enchantment, or a Snare, 
For to catch the Lookers on; 
But her self held fast by none. 
Let her Lucrece all day be, 
Thais in the night, to me. 
Be she such, as neither will 
Famish me, nor over-fill. 

S this a life, to break thy sleep? 

To rise as soon as day doth peep? 
' To tire thy patient Oxe or Asse 

By noone, and let thy good dayes passe. 
Not knowing This, that Jove decrees 
Some mirth, t'adulce mans miseries? 
No; 'tis a life, to have thine oyle. 
Without extortion, from thy soyle: 
Thy faithfull fields to yeeld thee Graine, 
Although with some, yet little paine; 
To have thy mind, and nuptiall bed, 
With f eares, and cares uncumbered : 
A pleasing Wife, that by thy side 
Lies softly panting like a Bride. 
This is to live, and to endeere 
Those minutes. Time has lent us here. 
Then, while Fates suffer, live thou free, 
(As is that ayre that circles thee) 
And crown thy temples too, and let 
Thy servant, not thy own self, sweat. 
To strut thy barnes with sheafs of Wheat. 
Time steals away like to a stream, 
118 



And we glide hence away with them. 
No sound recalls the houres once fled, 
Or Roses, being withered : 
Nor us (my Friend) when we are lost. 
Like to a Deaw, or melted Frost. 
Then live we mirthfuU, while we should, 
And turn the iron Age to Gold. 
Let's feast, and frolick, sing, and play. 
And thus lesse last, then live our Day. 
Whose life with care is overcast. 
That man's not vsaid to live, but last: 
Nor is't a life, seven yeares to tell, 
But for to live that half seven well : 
And that wee'l do; as men, who know, 
Some few sands spent, we 
hence must go, 

Both to be blended in the Urn, 
From whence there's never a return. 



HESPERIDES 

A 

Paranseticall, 
or Advisive 
Verse to his 
friend, M. 
John Wicks 




^T was, and still my care is, 
To worship ye, the Lares, 
I With crowns of greenest Parsley, 
lAnd Garlick chives not scarcely: 

For favours here to warme me, 

And not by fire to harme me. 

For gladding so my hearth here, 

With inoffensive mirth here; 

That while the Wassaile Bowie here 

With North-down Ale doth troule here, 

No sillable doth fall here. 

To marre the mirth at all here. 

For which, 6 Chimney-keepers! 

(I dare not call ye Sweepers) 

So long as I am able 

To keep a countrey -table, 

119 



A Hymne, to 
the Lares 



HESPERIDES 



To Anthea 



To Dianeme. 
A Ceremonie 
in Glocester 



The Funerall 
Rites of the 
Rose 




Great be my fare or small cheere, 
lie eat and drink up all here. 

lOME, Anthea, know thou this, 
'Love at no time idle is: 
[Let's be doing, though we play 
[But at push-pin (half the day:) 

Chains of sweet bents let us make. 

Captive one, or both, to take: 

In which bondage we will lie, 

Soules transfusing thus, and die. 

LE to thee a Simnell bring, 
'Gainst thou go'st a mothering; 
So that, when she blesseth thee, 
Half that blessing thou'lt give me. 

HE Rose was sick, and 

smiling di'd; 

And (being to be sanctifi'd) 

About the Bed, there sighing stood 
The sweet, and flowrie Sisterhood. 
Some hung the head, while some did bring 
(To wash her) water from the Spring. 
Some laid her forth, while others wept, 
But all a solemne Fast there kept. 
The holy Sisters some among 
The sacred Dirge and Trentall sung. 
But ah! what sweets smell every where, 
As Heaven had spent all 
perfumes there. 

At last, when prayers for the dead, 
And Rites were all accomplished; 
They, weeping, spread a Lawnie Loome, 
And clos'd her up, as in a Tombe. 
120 





T Stool-ball, Lucia, let us play, HESPERIDES 

For Sugar-cakes and Wine; 

Or for a Tansie let us pay, Stool-ball 

The losse or thine, or mine. 

If thou, my Deere, a winner be 
At trundling of the Ball, 
The wager thou shalt have, and me, 
And my misfortunes all. 

But if (my Sweetest) I shall get, 
Then I desire but this; 
That likewise I may pay the Bet, 
And have for all a kisse. 

fET us now take time, and play. To Sappho 

Love, and live here while we may; 

Drink rich wine; and make 

good cheere, 
"While we have our being here : 
For, once dead, and laid i' th' grave, 
No return from thence we have. 

HE May-pole is up. The May-pole 

Now give me the cup; 

rie drink to the Garlands a-round it: 

But first unto those 
Whose hands did compose 
The glory of flowers that crown'd it. 

A health to my Girles, 

Whose husbands may Earles 

Or Lords be, (granting my wishes) 

And when that ye wed 

To the Bridall Bed, 

Then multiply all, like to Fishes. 

121 





HESPERIDES 

The Bracelet 
of Pearle: 
to Silvia 



How Roses 
came red 



His returne 
to London 




BRAKE thy Bracelet 'gainst my will; 
And, wretched, I did see 
Thee discomposed then, and still 
Art discontent with me. 

One jemme was lost; and I will get 
A richer pearle for thee, 
Then ever, dearest Silvia, yet 
Was drunk to Antonie. 

Or, for revenge, He tell thee what 
Thou for the breach shalt do; 
First, crack the strings, and after that. 
Cleave thou my heart in two. 

IS said, as Cupid danc't among 
The Gods, he down the Nectar flung ; 
Which, on the white Rose being shed, 
Made it for ever after red. 

ROM the dull confines of the drooping West, 
To see the day spring from the pregnant East, 
Ravisht in spirit, I come, nay more, I flie 
To thee, blest place of my Nativitie! 

Thus, thus with hallowed foot I touch the ground, 

With thousand blessings by thy Fortune crown'd. 

O fruitfuU Genius! that bestowest here 

An everlasting plenty, yeere by yeere. 

Place! O People! Manners! fram'd to please 
All Nations, Customes, Kindreds, Languages! 

1 am a free-born Roman; suffer then, 
That I amongst you live a Citizen. 

London my home is : though by hard fate sent 
Into a long and irksome banishment; 
Yet since cal'd back; henceforward let me be, 
O native countrey, repossest by thee! 
122 





For, rather then He to the West return, HESPERIDES 

lie beg of thee first here to have mine Urn. 
Weak I am grown, and must in short time fall; 
Give thou my sacred Reliques Buriall. 

I IS not ev'ry day, that I Not every 

Fitted am to prophesie: day fit for 

No, but when the Spirit fils Verse 

The f antastick Pannicles : 

Full of fier; then I write 

As the Godhead doth indite. 

Thus inrag'd, my lines are hurl'd. 

Like the Sybell's, through the world. 

Look how next the holy fier 

Either slakes, or doth retire; 

So the Fancie cooles, till when 

That brave Spirit comes agen. 

[OMMAND the Roofe, great Genius, To the Genius 

I and from thence of his house 

Into this house powre downe thy influence, 
; That through each room a golden pipe may run 

Of living water by thy Benizon, 

Fulfill the Larders, and with 

strengthning bread 

Be evermore these Bynns replenished 

Next, like a Bishop consecrate my ground, 

That luckie Fairies here may 

dance their Round: 

And after that, lay downe some silver pence. 

The Masters charge and care to recompence. 

Charme then the chambers; make 

the beds for ease. 

More then for peevish pining sicknesses. 

Fix the foundation fast, and let the Roofe 

123 




HESPERIDES 



His Grange, 
or private 
wealth 




Grow old with time, but yet keep 
weather-proofe. 

HOUGH Clock, 

To tell how night drawes hence, I've none, 

A Cock, 

I have, to sing how day drawes on. 
I have 

A maid (my Prew) by good luck sent, 
To save 

That little. Fates me gave or lent. 
A Hen 

I keep, which creeking day by day. 
Tells when 

She goes her long white egg to lay. 
A Goose 

I have, which, with a jealous eare. 
Lets loose 

Her tongue, to tell what danger's neare. 
A Lamb 

I keep (tame) with my morsells fed, 
Whose Dam 

An Orphan left him (lately dead). 
A Cat 

I keep, that playes about my House, 
Grown fat, 

With eating many a miching Mouse. 
To these 

A Trasy I do keep, whereby 
I please 

The more my rurall privacie : 
Which are 

But toyes, to give my heart some ease: 
Where care 

None is, slight things do lightly please. 
124 





[Y Lucia in the deaw did go, 
'And prettily bedabled so, 
Her cloaths held up, she shew'd withall 
Her decent legs, cleane, long and small. 
I follow' d after to descrie 
Part of the nak't sincerity; 
But still the envious Scene between 
Deni'd the Mask I wo'd have seen. 

[HARON! O gentle Charon! let me wooe thee, 
[By tears and pitie now to come unto mee. 
CH , What voice so sweet and charming do I heare? 
1 Say what thou art. PH. I prithee first draw neare. 
CH. A sound I heare, but nothing yet can see. 
Speak where thou art. PH. O Charon pittie me! 
I am a bird, and though no name I tell. 
My warbling note will say I'm Phylomel. 
CH. What's that to me, I waft nor fish or fowles, 
Nor Beasts (fond thing) but only humane soules. 
PH. Alas for me! CH. Shame on thy witching note, 
That made me thus hoist saile, and bring my Boat: 
But He returne; what mischief brought thee hither? 
PH, A deale of Love, and much, much Grief e together. 
CH . What's thy request? PH . That since she's now beneath 
Who fed my life, I'le follow her in death. 
CH. And is that all? I'm gone. PH. By love I pray thee. 
CH. Talk not of love, all pray, but few soules pay me. 
PH. He give thee vows & tears. CH. Can tears pay skores 
For mending sails, for patching Boat and Oares? 
PH. I'le beg a penny, or He sing so long. 
Till thou shalt say, I've paid thee with a song. 
CH. Why then begin, and all the while we make 
Our slothfull passage o're the Stygian Lake, 
Thou & I'le sing to make these dull Shades merry, 
Who els with tears wo'd doubtles drown my ferry. 

125 



HESPERIDES 

Upon Lucia 
dabled in 
the deaw 



Charon and 
Phylomel, a 
Dialogue 
sung 



HESPERIDES 

A Ternarie of 
littles, upon a 
pipkin of 
Jellie sent to 
a Lady 



Upon the 
Roses in 
Julia's 
bosome 

Lovers how 
they come 
and part 




LITTLE Saint best fits a little Shrine, 
A little prop best fits a little Vine, 
As my small Cruse best fits 
my little Wine. 

A little Seed best fits a little Soyle, 

A little Trade best fits a little Toyle: 

As my small Jarre best fits my little Oyle. 

A little Bin best fits a little Bread, 

A little Garland fits a little Head: 

As my small stuffe best fits my little Shed. 

A little Hearth best fits a little Fire, 

A little Chappell fits a little Quire, 

As my small Bell best fits my little Spire. 

A little streame bests fits a little Boat; 

A little lead best fits a little Float; 

As my small Pipe best fits my little note. 

A little meat bests fits a little bellie. 

As sweetly, Lady, give me leave to tell ye. 

This little pipkin fits this little Jellie. 

HRICE happie Roses, so much grac't, to have 
Within the Bosome of my Love your grave. 
Die when ye will, your sepulchre is knowne. 
Your Grave her bosome is, the Lawne the Stone. 

GYGES Ring they beare about them still, 
To be, and not seen when and where they will. 
They tread on clouds, and though they sometimes fall, 
They fall like dew, but make no noise at all. 

So silently they one to th' other come. 

As colours steale into the Peare or Plum, 

And Aire-like, leave no pression to be seen 

Where ere they met, or parting place has been. 
126 






O gather Flowers Sappha went, 
And homeward she did bring 
"Within her Lawnie Continent, 
The treasure of the Spring, 

She smiling blusht, and blushing smil'd 
And sweetly blushing thus, 
She lookt as she'd been got with child 
By young Favonius. 

Her Apron gave (as she did passe) 
An Odor more divine, 
More pleasing too, then ever was 
The lap of Proserpine. 

[OME Anthea, let us two 

Go to Feast, as others do. 

Tarts and Custards, Creams and Cakes, 

Are the Junketts still at Wakes: 
Unto which the Tribes resort. 
Where the businesse is the sport: 
Morris-dancers thou shalt see, 
Marian too in Pagentrie: 
And a Mimick to devise 
Many grinning properties. 
Players there will be, and those 
Base in action as in clothes: 
Yet with strutting they will please 
The incurious Villages. 
Neer the dying of the day. 
There will be a Cudgell-Play, 
Where a Coxcomb will be broke, 
Ere a good word can be spoke: 
But the anger ends all here, 
Drencht in Ale, or drown'd in Beere. 
Happy Rusticks, best content 

127 



HESPERIDES 

The Apron of 
Flowers 



The Wake 



HESPERIDES 



Upon his 
Kinswoman 
Mrs. M. S. 



A Hymne to 
Bacchus 




"With the cheapest Merriment: 
And possesse no other feare, 
Then to want the Wake next Yeare. 

jERE lies a Virgin, and as sweet 
As ere was wrapt in winding sheet. 
Her name if next you wo'd have knowne, 
The Marble speaks it Mary Stone: 
"Who dying in her blooming yeares, 
This Stone, for names sake, melts to teares. 
If fragrant Virgins you'l but keep 
A Fast, while Jets and Marbles weep. 
And praying, strew some Roses on her, 
You'l do my Neice abundant honour. 

SING thy praise lacchus, 

Who with thy Thyrse dost thwack us: 

And yet thou so dost back us 

With boldness, that we feare 
No Brutus entring here; 
Nor Cato the severe. 
What though the Lictors threat us 
We know they dare not beate us; 
So long as thou dost heat us. 
When we thy Orgies sing, 
Each Cobler is a King; 
Nor dreads he any thing: 
And though he doe not rave. 
Yet he'l the courage have 
To call my Lord Maior knave; 
Besides too, in a brave. 
Although he has no riches, 
But walks with dangling breeches, 
And skirts that want their stitches, 
And shewes his naked flitches; 
128 





Yet he'le be thought or seen, 
So good as George-a-Green; 
And calls his Blouze, his Queen; 
And speaks in language keene: 
O Bacchus! let us be 
From cares and troubles free; 
And thou shalt heare how we 
Will chant new Hymnes to thee. 

jONOUR to you 

who sit! 

'Neere to the well of wit; 

,And drink your fill of it. 

Glory and worship be! 

To you, sweet Maids (thrice three) 

Who still inspire me. 

And teach me how to sing 
Unto the Lyrick string, 
My measures ravishing. 

Then while I sing your praise. 
My Priest-hood crown with bayes 
Green, to the end of dayes. 

'HENAS in silks my Julia goes, 
IThen, then (me thinks) how 
sweetly flowes 
*That liquefaction of her clothes. 

Next, when I cast mine eyes and see 
That brave Vibration each way free; 
O how that glittering taketh me! 

N this little Urne is laid 
Prewdence Baldwin (once my maid) 
From whose happy spark here let 
Spring the purple Violet. 

129 



HESPERIDES 



An Hymne to 
the Muses 




Upon Julia's 
Clothes 




Upon Prew 
his Maid 



HESPERIDES 

The 

Invitation 



Ceremonies 

for 

Christmasse 




O sup with thee thou didst me home invite; 
And mad'st a promise that mine appetite 
Sho'd meet and tire, on such lautitious meat, 
The like not Heliogabalus did eat: 
And richer Wine wo'dst give to me (thy guest) 
Then Roman Sylla powr'd out at his feast. 
I came; ('tis true) and lookt for Fowle of price, 
The bastard Phenix; bird of Paradice; 
And for no less then Aromatick Wine 
Of Maydens'-blush, commixt with Jessimine. 
Cleane was the herth, the mantle larded jet; 
Which wanting Lar, and smoke, hung weeping wet; 
At last, i' th' noone of winter, did appeare 
A rag'd-soust-neats-foot with sick vineger: 
And in a burnisht Flagonet stood by 
Beere small as Comfort, dead as Charity. 
At which amaz'd, and pondring on the food, 
How cold it was, and how it chil'd my blood; 
I curst the master; and I damn'd the souce; 
And swore I'de got the ague of the house. 
Well, when to eat thou dost me next desire, 
lie bring a Fever; since thou keep'st no fire. 

[OME, bring with a noise, 

'My merrie merrie boyes. 

The Christmas Log to the firing; 

While my good Dame, she 
Bids ye all be free; 
And drink to your hearts desiring. 

With the last yeere's brand 
Light the new block. And 
For good successe in his spending, 
On your Psaltries play. 
That sweet luck may 
Come while the Log is a-teending. 
130 





Drink now the strong Beere, 

Cut the white loafe here, 

The while the meat is a-shredding; 

For the rare Mince-Pie 

And the Plums stand by 

To fill the Paste that's a-kneading. 

OME guard this night the Christmas-Pie, 
That the Thiefe, though ne'r so slie, 
With his Flesh-hooks, don't come nie 
To catch it 

From him, who all alone sits there. 
Having his eyes still in his eare, 
And a deale of nightly f eare 
To watch it. 

ASH your hands, or else the fire 
Will not teend to your desire; 
Unwasht hands, ye Maidens, know, 
Dead the Fire, though ye blow. 

ASSAILE the Trees, that they may beare 
You many a Plum, and many a Peare: 
For more or lesse fruits they will bring, 
As you doe give them Wassailing. 

RPHEUS he went (as Poets tell) 

To fetch Euridice from Hell; 

And had her; but it was upon 

I This short but strict condition: 
Backward he should not looke while he 
Led her through Hells obscuritie: 
But ah! it hapned as he made 
His passage through that dreadfull shade: 
Revolve he did his loving eye; 

131 



HESPERIDES 



Christmas- 
Eve, another 
Ceremonie 




Another to 
the Maids 



Another 



Orpheus 



HESPERIDES 



(For gentle feare, or jelousie) 

And looking back, that look did sever 

Him and Euridice for ever. 



The Bride- 
cake 



To be Merry 




I HIS day my Julia thou must make 
For Mistresse Bride, the wedding Cake: 
Knead but the Dow, and it will be 
To paste of Almonds turn'd by thee: 
Or kisse it thou, but once, or twice, 
And for the Bride-Cake ther'l be Spice. 



ETS now take our time; 
While w'are in our Prime; 
And old, old Age is a-farre off: 
For the evill evill dayes 




"Will come on apace; 
Before we can be aware of. 



Buriall 



Griefe 



The Maiden- 
Blush 



AN may want Land to live in; 
but for all, 

Nature finds out some place 
for buriall. 

ONSIDER sorrowes, how they 
are aright: 

Griefe, if 't be great, 'tis short; 
if long, 'tis light. 

I O look the mornings when the Sun 
Paints them with fresh Vermilion : 
So Cherries blush, and Kathern Peares, 
And Apricocks, in youthfuU yeares: 
So CorroUs looke more lovely Red, 
And Rubies lately polished: 
So purest Diaper doth shine, 
132 





Stain'd by the Beames of Clarret wine: 
As Julia looks when she doth dress 
Her either cheeke with bashfullness. 

EEST thou that Cloud that rides in State 

Part Ruby-like, part Candidate? 

It is no other then the Bed 

Where Venus sleeps (halfe smothered). 

SAW a Flie within a Beade 

Of Amber cleanly buried: 

The Urne was little, but the room 

More rich then Cleopatra's Tombe. 

'HENERE I go, or what so ere befalls 
Me in mine Age, or forraign Funerals, 
This Blessing I will leave thee ere, I go, 
Prosper thy Basket, and therein thy Dow. 
Feed on the paste of Filberts, or else knead 
And Bake the floure of Amber for thy Bread. 
Balm may thy Trees drop, and thy Springs runne oyle, 
And everlasting Harvest crown thy Soile! 
These I but wish for; but thy selfe shall see, 
The blessing fall in mellow times on Thee. 

MMORTALL clothing 
I put on, 

So soone, as Julia, I am gon 
To mine eternall Mansion. 

Thou, thou art here, to humane sight 
Cloth 'd all with incorrupted light; 
But yet how more admir'dly bright 

Wilt thou appear, when thou art set 

In thy refulgent Thronelet, 

That shin'st thus in thy counterfeit? 

133 



HESPERIDES 



The Cloud 



The Amber 
Bead 



To my 
dearest Sister 
M. Mercie 
Herrick 




The Transfig- 
uration 



HESPERIDES 

To Julia, in 
her Dawn, or 
Day-breake 



To Dianeme 




Y the next kindling of the day 
My Julia thou shalt see. 
Ere Ave-Mary thou canst say, 
He come and visit thee. 

Yet ere thou counsel'st with thy Glasse, 
Appeare thou to mine eyes 
As smooth, and nak't, as she that was 
The prime of Paradice. 

If blush thou must, then blush thou through 
A Lawn, that thou mayst looke 
As purest Pearles, or Pebles do 
When peeping through a Brooke. 

As Lillies shrin'd in Christall, so 
Do thou to me appeare; 
Or Damask Roses when they grow 
To sweet acquaintance there. 

COD but see thee yesterday 
Stung by a fretfuU Bee; 
And I the Javelin suckt away. 
And heal'd the wound in thee. 

A thousand thorns, and Bryars & Stings 
I have in my poore Brest; 
Yet n'er can see that salve which brings 
My Passions any rest. 

As Love shall helpe me, I admire 
How thou canst sit and smile. 
To see me bleed, and not desire 
To stench the blood the while. 

If thou compos'd of gentle mould 
Art so unkind to me; 
What dismall Stories will be told 
Of those that cruell be? 
134 






[ERE she lyes (in Bed of Spice) 

Faire as Eve in Paradice: 

I For her beauty it was such 

Poets co'd not praise too much. 
Virgins come, and in a Ring 
Her supreamest Requiem sing; 
Then depart, but see ye tread 
Lightly, lightly ore the dead. 

'AKE haste away, and let one be 

A friendly Patron unto thee: 

Lest rapt from hence, I see thee lye 

Torn for the use of Pasterie: 
Or see thy injur'd Leaves serve well, 
To make loose Gownes for Mackarell: 
Or see the Grocers in a trice. 
Make hoods of thee to serve out Spice. 

OUCH but thy Lire (my Harrie) and I heare 

From thee some raptures 

of the rare Gotiere. 

Then if thy voice commingle with the String, 
I heare in thee the rare Laniere to sing; 
Or curious Wilson : Tell me, canst thou be 
Less then Apollo, that usurp'st such Three? 
Three, unto whom the whole world give applause; 
Yet their Three praises, praise 
but One; that's Lawes. 

NTHEA I am going hence 
With some small stock of innocence: 
But yet those blessed gates I see 
"Withstanding entrance unto me. 

To pray for me doe thou begin, 

The Porter then will let me in. 

135 



HESPERIDES 
Upon a Maide 



To his Booke 




To M. Henry 
Lawes, the 
excellent 
Composer of 
his Lyricks 




To Anthea 



HESPERIDES 



Upon Love 




OVE brought me to a silent Grove, 
And shew'd me there a Tree, 
Where some had hang'd 
themselves for love, 
And gave a Twist to me. 

The Halter was of silk, and gold, 
That he reacht forth unto me: 
No otherwise, then if he would 
By dainty things undo me. 

He bade me then that Neck-lace use; 
And told me too, he maketh 
A glorious end by such a Noose, 
His Death for Love that taketh. 

'Twas but a dream ; but had I been 
There really alone; 
My desp'rate feares, in love, had seen 
Mine Execution. 



An Hymne 
to Cupid 




[HOU, thou that bear'st the sway 

I With whom the Sea- 

Nimphs play; 

> And Venus, every way : 
When I embrace thy knee; 
And make short pray'rs to thee: 
In love, then prosper me. 
This day I goe to wooe; 
Instruct me how to doe 
This worke thou put'st me too. 
From shame my face keepe free, 
From scorne I begge of thee. 
Love to deliver me: 
So shall I sing thy praise; 
And to thee Altars raise, 
Unto the end of daies. 
136 





' Y soule would one day goe and seeke 
'For Roses, and in Julia's cheeke 
^ A richess of those sweets she found, 
.(As in another Rosamond.) 

But gathering Roses as she was, 

(Not knowing what would come to passe) 

It chanst a ringlet of her haire, 

Caught my poore soule, as in a snare: 

Which ever since has been in thrall; 

Yet freedome, shee enjoyes withall. 

[ELL me, what needs those rich deceits, 
[These golden Toyles, and Trammel-nets, 
,To take thine haires when they are knowne 
'Already tame, and all thine owne? 

'Tis I am wild, and more then haires 

Deserve these Mashes and those snares. 

Set free thy Tresses, let them flow 

As aires doe breathe, or winds doe blow: 

And let such curious Net- works be 

Lesse set for them, then spred for me. 

OVE in a showre of Blossomes came 
Down, and halfe drown'd me with the same: 
The Blooms that fell were white and red; 
But with such sweets commingled, 

As whether (this) I cannot tell 

My sight was pleas'd more, or my smell: 

But true it was, as I rowl'd there. 

Without a thought of hurt, or feare; 

Love turn'd himselfe into a Bee, 

And with his Javelin wounded me: 

From which mishap this use I make. 

Where most sweets are, there lyes a Snake: 

Kisses and Favours are sweet things; 

But Those have thorns, and These have stings. 

137 



HESPERIDES 

How his 
soule came 
ensnared 



Upon Julia's 
Haire, 

bundled up in 
a golden net 




The showre 
of Blossomes 



HESPERIDES 

Ceremonies 
for 

Candlemasse 
Eve 



The 

Ceremonies 

for 

Candlemasse 

day 




OWN with the Rosemary and Bayes, 
Down with the Misleto; 
Instead of Holly, now up-raise 
The greener Box (for show.) 

The Holly hitherto did sway; 
Let Box now domineere; 
Untill the dancing Easter-day, 
Or Easters Eve appeare. 

Then youthfull Box which now hath grace, 
Your houses to renew; 
Grown old, surrender must his place, 
Unto the crisped Yew. 

When Yew is out, then Birch comes in, 
And many Flowers beside: 
Both of a fresh and fragrant kinne 
To honour Whitsontide. 

Green Rushes then, and sweetest Bents, 

With cooler Oken boughs; 

Come in for comely ornaments, 

To re-adorn the house. 

Thus times do shift; each thing 

his turne do's hold; 

New things succeed, as former things grow old. 

INDLE the Christmas Brand and then 
Till Sunne-set, let it burne: 
Which quencht, then lay it up agen, 
Till Christmas next returne. 

Part musi be kept wherewith to teend 
The Christmas Log next yeare; 
And where 'tis safely kept, the Fiend, 
Can do no mischiefe (there.) 
138 





ND now the "White-loafe, 
& the Pye, 
And let all sports 
with Christmas dye. 

ROM me my Silvia ranne away, 
And running therewithal!, 
A Primrose Banke did cross her way, 
And gave my Love a fall. 

But trust me now, I dare not say, 
What I by chance did see; 
But such the Drap'ry did betray 
That fully ravisht me. 

jERE lyes Johnson with the rest 
Of the Poets; but the Best. 

I Reader, wo'dst thou more have known? 

^Aske his Story, not this Stone. 
That will speake what this can't tell 
Of his glory. So farewell. 

HBen! 

Say how, or when 

Shall we thy Guests 

Meet at those Lyrick Feasts, 

Made at the Sun, 

The Dog, the triple Tunne? 

Where we such clusters had. 

As made us nobly wild, not mad; 

And yet each Verse of thine 

Out-did the meate, out-did the frolick wine. 

My Ben! 

Or come agen: 

Or send to us, 

139 



HESPERIDES 

Upon 

Candlemasse 

day 

A Song upon 
Silvia 




Upon Ben. 
Johnson 




An Ode for 
him 



HESPERIDES 



Thy wit's great over-plus; 

But teach us yet 

Wisely to husband it; 

Lest we that Tallent spend : 

And having once brought to an end 

That precious stock; the store 

Of such a wit the world sho'd have no more. 



To M. Kellam 




'HAT! can my Kellam drink his Sack 
■ In Goblets to the brim, 
And see his Robin Herrick lack, 
Yet send no Boules to him? 

For love or pitie to his Muse, 

(That she may flow in Verse) 

Contemne to recommend a Cruse, 

But send to her a Tearce. 



Happinesse to 
hospitalitie, or 
a hearty to 
good house- 
keeping 




IRST, may the hand of bounty bring 

Into the daily offering 

Of full provision; such a store. 

Till that the Cooke cries, Bring no more. 
Upon your hogsheads never fall 
A drought of wine, ale, beere (at all;) 
But, like full clouds, may they from thence 
Diffuse their mighty influence. 
Next, let the Lord, and Ladie here 
Enjoy a Christning yeare by yeare; 
And this good blessing back them still, 
T'ave Boyes, and Gyrles too, as they will. 
Then from the porch may many a Bride 
Unto the Holy Temple ride: 
And thence return, (short prayers seyd) 
A wife most richly married. 
Last, may the Bride and Bridegroome be 
Untoucht by cold sterility; 
140 





But in their springing blood so play, 
As that in Lusters few they may, 
By laughing too, and lying downe 
People a City or a Towne. 

[ ARDON my trespasse (Silvia,) I confesse, 
My kisse out- went the bounds 
of shamfastnesse: 

None is discreet at all times; no, not Jove 
Himselfe, at one time, can be wise and Love. 

jOW fierce was I, when I did see 
My Julia wash her self in thee! 
So Lillies thorough Christall look: 
So purest pebbles in the brook: 

As in the River Julia did, 

Halfe with a Lawne of water hid. 

Into thy streames my self I threw, 

And strugling there, I kist thee too; 

And more had done (it is confest) 

Had not thy waves forbad the rest. 

OVE, like a Beggar, came to me 
With Hose and Doublet torne: 
His Shirt bedangling from his knee, 
With Hat and Shooes out-worne. 

He askt an almes; I gave him bread, 
And meat too, for his need: 
Of which, when he had fully fed. 
He wished me all Good speed. 

Away he went, but as he turn'd 
(In faith I know not how) 
He toucht me so, as that I burn. 
And am tormented now. 

141 



HESPERIDES 



To Silvia 



Upon Julia's 
washing her 
self in the 



river 




Upon Cupid 



HESPERIDES 



An Hymne 
to Love 




Love's silent flames, and fires obscure 
Then crept into my heart; 
And though I saw no Bow, I'm sure 
His finger was the dart. 

WILL confesse 
"With Cheerfulnesse, 
Love is a thing so likes me. 
That let her lay 

On me all day. 

He kiss the hand that strikes me. 

I will not, I 

Now blubb'ring, cry. 

It (Ah!) too late repents me. 

That I did fall 

To love at all, 

Since love so much contents me. 

No, no. He be 

In fetters free : 

While others they sit wringing 

Their hands for paine; 

He entertaine 

The wounds of love with singing. 

With Flowers and Wine, 

And Cakes Divine, 

To strike me I will tempt thee: 

Which done; no more 

He come before 

Thee and thine Altars emptie. 



On Himselfe 




EEPE for the dead, for they have lost this light: 
And weepe for me, lost in an endlesse night. 
Or mourne, or make a Marble Verse for me, 
Who writ for many, Benedicite. 
142 




OST to the world; lost to my selfe; alone 
Here now I rest under this Marble stone: 
In depth of silence, heard, 
and seene of none. 

OW thou art dead, no eye shall ever see. 
For shape and service, Spaniell like to thee. 
This shall my love doe, give thy sad death one 
Teare, that deserves of me a million. 

HOU seest me Lucia this year droope. 

Three Zodiaks fill'd more I shall stoope; 

Let crutches then provided be 

To shore up my debilitie. 
Then while thou laugh'st; He, sighing, crie, 
A Ruine underpropt am I : 
Do'n will I then my Beadsmans gown, 
And when so feeble I am grown, 
As my weake shoulders cannot beare 
The burden of a Grashopper: 
Yet with the bench of aged sires. 
When I and they keep tearmly fires; 
"With my weake voice Fie sing, or say 
Some Odes I made of Lucia: 
Then will I heave my wither' d hand 
To Jove the Mighty, for to stand 
Thy faithfuU friend, and to poure downe 
Upon the many a Benizon. 

OWN with the Rosemary, and so 
Down with the Baies & misletoe: 
Down with the Holly, Ivie, all, 
Wherewith ye drest the Christmas Hall: 

That so the superstitious find 

No one least Branch there left behind: 

143 



HESPERIDES 
On Himselfe 



Upon his 

Spaniell 

Tracie 



Crutches 




Ceremony 
upon 

Candlemas 
Eve 



HESPERIDES 



LACON. 

A Bucolick 
betwixt Two: 
Lacon and 
Thyrsis 




For look, how many leaves there be 
Neglected there (maids trust to me) 
So many Goblins you shall see. 

OR a kiss or two, confesse, 
"What doth cause this pensiveness. 
Thou most lovely Neat-heardesse? 
Si^Why so lonely on the hill? 

Why thy pipe by thee so still. 

That ere while was heard so shrill? 

Tell me, do thy kine now fail 

To fulfill the milkin-paile? 

Say, what is't that thou do'st aile? 

THYR. None of these; but out, alas! 
A mischance is come to pass. 
And lie tell thee what it was: 
See mine eyes are weeping ripe. 

LACON. Tell, and Fie lay down my Pipe. 

THYR. I have lost my lovely steere, 
That to me was far more deer 
Then these kine, which I milke here. 
Broad of fore-head, large of eye, 
Party-colour'd like a Pie; 
Smooth in each limb as a die; 
Clear of hoof, and clear of horn; 
Sharply pointed as a thorn: 
"With a neck by yoke unworn. 
From the which hung down by strings. 
Balls of Cowslips, Daisie rings, 
Enterplac't with ribbanings. 
Faultless every way for shape; 
Not a straw co'd him escape; 
Ever gamesome as an ape: 
But yet harmless as a sheep. 
144 



(Pardon, Lacon if I weep) HESPERIDES 
Tears will spring, were woes are deep. 

Now (ai me!) (ai me!) Last night A Bucolick 

Came a mad dog, and did bite, betwixt Two: 

I, and kil'd my dear delight. Lacon and 

LACON. Alack, for grief! Thyrsis 

THYR. But He be brief. 

Hence I must, for time doth call 
Me, and my sad Play-mates all. 
To his Ev'ning Funerall. 
Live long, Lacon, so adew! 

LACON. MournfuU maid, farewell to you; 
Earth afford ye flowers to strew. 

RISK methinks I am, and fine, Anacreontick 

When I drinke my capring wine: Verse 

I Then to love I do encline, 

I When I drinke my wanton wine: 
And I wish all maidens mine, 
When I drinke my sprightly wine : 
Well I sup, and well I dine, 
When I drinke my f rolick wine : 
But I languish, lowre, and Pine, 
When I want my fragrant wine. 

BRING ye Love. QUEST. What will love do? Upon Love, 
ANS. Like, and dislike ye: by way of 

I bring ye love: QUEST. What will Love do? question and 
I ANS. Stroake ye to strike ye. answer 

I bring ye love: QUEST. What will Love do? 

ANS. Love will be-foole ye: 

I bring ye love: QUEST, What will love do? 

ANS. Heate ye to coole ye. 

145 





HESPERIDES 



Anthea's 
Retractation 



The Vision 



I bring ye love: QUEST. "What will love do? 

ANS. Love gifts will send ye: 

I bring ye love: QUEST. What will love do? 

ANS. Stock ye to spend ye: 

I bring ye love: QUEST. What will love do? 

ANS, Love will fulfill ye: 

I bring ye love: QUEST. What will love do? 

ANS, Kisse ye, to kill ye. 



NTHEA laught, and fearing lest excesse 
Might stretch the cords of civill comelinesse: 
She with a dainty blush rebuk't her face; 
And cal'd each line back to his rule and space. 




E thought I saw (as I did dreame in bed) 
A crawling Vine about Anacreon's head: 
Flusht was his face; his haires 
with oyle did shine; 
And as he spake, his mouth ranne 
ore with wine. 

Tipled he was; and tipling lispt withall; 
And lisping reel'd, and reeling like to fall. 
A young Enchantresse close by him did stand 
Tapping his plump thighes with a mirtle wand: 
She smil'd; he kist; and kissing, cuU'd her too; 
And being cup-shot, more he co'd not doe. 
For which (me thought) in prittie anger she 
Snatcht off his Crown, and gave the wreath to me: 
Since when (me thinks) my braines about doe swim, 
And I am wilde and wanton like to him. 



A Vow to 
Venus 




APPILY I had a sight 
Of my dearest deare last night; 
Make her this day smile on me, 
And He Roses give to thee. 
146 




[ARTLY worke and partly play 

'Ye must on S. Distaff's day: 
From the Plough soone free your teame; 
Then come home and fother them. 
If the Maides a-spinning goe, 
Burne the flax, and fire the tow: 
Scorch their plackets, but beware 
That ye singe no maiden-haire. 
Bring in pailes of water then. 
Let the Maides bewash the men. 
Give S. Distaffe all the right. 
Then bid Christmas sport good night; 
And next morrow, every one 
To his owne vocation. 



HESPERIDES 

Saint Distaff's 
day, or the 
morrow after 
Twelth day 




SEND, I send here my supremest kiss 
To thee, my silver-footed Thamasis. 
No more shall I reiterate thy Strand, 
1 Whereon so many Stately Structures stand: 
Nor in the summers sweeter evenings go, 
To bath in thee (as thousand others doe,) 
No more shall I along thy christall glide, 
In Barge (with boughes and rushes beautifi'd) 
With soft-smooth Virgins (for our chast disport) 
To Richmond, Kingstone, and to Hampton-Court: 
Never againe shall I with Finnie-Ore 
Put from, or draw unto the faithfuU shore: 
And Landing here, or safely Landing there, 
Make way to my Beloved Westminster : 
Or to the Golden-cheap-side, where the earth 
Of Julia Herrick gave to me my Birth. 
May all clean Nimphs and curious water Dames, 
With Swan-like-state flote up 
& down thy streams : 
No drought upon thy wanton waters fall 

147 



His teares 
to Thamasis 



HESPERIDES 



Twelfe night, 
or King and 
Queene 




To make them Leane, and languishing at all. 

No ruffling winds come hither to discease 

Thy pure, and Silver-wristed Naides. 

Keep up your state, ye streams; 

and as ye spring. 

Never make sick your Banks by surfeiting. 

Grow young with Tydes, and 

though I see ye never. 

Receive this vow, so fare-ye-well for ever. 

O W, now the mirth comes 

With the cake full of plums. 

Where Beane's the King of the sport here; 

Beside we must know. 
The Pea also 
Must revell, as Queene, in the Court here. 

Begin then to chuse, 

(This night as ye use) 

Who shall for the present delight here. 

Be a King by the lot. 

And who shall not 

Be Twelfe-day Queene for the night here. 

Which knowne, let us make 

Joy-sops with the cake; 

And let not a man then be seen here, 

Who unurg'd will not drinke 

To the base from the brink 

A health to the King and the Queene here. 

Next crowne the bowle full 
With gentle lamb's-wooll; 
Adde sugar, nutmeg, and ginger, 
With store of ale too; 
And thus ye must doe 
To make the wassaile a swinger. 
148 




Give then to the King HESPERIDES 

And Queene wassailing : 

And though with ale ye be whet here; 

Yet part ye from hence, 

As free from offence, 

As when ye innocent met here. 

I IVE me a man that is not dull. His desire 

When all the world with rifts is full: 

But unamaz'd dares clearely sing, 

Whenas the roof's a-tottering: 
And, though it falls, continues still 
Tickling the Citterne with his quill. 

HE only comfort of my life His Comfort 

Is, that I never yet had wife; 

Nor will hereafter; since I know 

Who Weds, ore-buyes his weal with woe. 

INCE shed or Cottage I have none, To his 

I sing the more, that thou hast one; peculiar friend 

To whose glad threshold, and free door M. Jo: Wicks 

I may a Poet come, though poor; 

And eat with thee a savory bit, 

Paying but common thanks for it. 

Yet sho'd I chance, (my Wicks) to see 

An over-leven-looke in thee. 

To soure the Bread, and turn the Beer 

To an exalted vineger; 

Or sho'dst thou prize me as a Dish 

Of thrice-boyl'd-worts, or third daye's fish; 

I'de rather hungry go and come. 

Then to thy house be Burdensome; 

Yet, in my depth of grief, Fde be 

One that sho'd drop his Beads for thee. 

149 




HESPERIDES 
Charmes 

Another 



Another 



A Dialogue 
betwixt 
himself e and 
Mistresse 
Eliza 
Wheeler, 
under the 
name of 
Amarillis 





HIS He tell ye by the way, 
Maidens when ye Leavens lay, 
Crosse your Dow, and your dispatch, 
"Will be better for your Batch. 

N the morning when ye rise, 

Wash your hands and cleanse your eyes. 

Next be sure ye have a care, 

To disperse the water f arre. 
For as farre as that doth light, 
So farre keepes the evill Spright. 

F ye feare to be affrighted 

When ye are (by chance) benighted 

In your Pocket for a trust, 

Carrie nothing but a Crust: 
For that holy piece of Bread 
Charmes the danger, and the dread. 

' Y dearest Love, since thou wilt go, 
I And leave me here behind thee; 
*For love or pitie let me know 
The place where I may find thee. 

AMARIL. In country Meadowes pearl'd with Dew, 

And set about with Lillies; 

There filling Maunds with Cowslips, you 

May find your Amarillis. 

HER. What have the Meades to do with thee. 
Or with thy youthfull houres? 
Live thou at Court, where thou mayst be 
The Queen of men, not flowers. 

Let Country wenches make 'em fine 
With Poesies, since 'tis fitter 
For thee with richest Jemmes to shine. 
And like the Starres to glitter. 
150 





AMARIL. You set too high a rate upon 
A Shepheardess so homely; 
HER. Believe it (dearest) ther's not one 
r th' Court that's half e so comly. 

I prithee stay. (AM.) I must away; 
Let's kiss first, then we'l sever. 
AMBO. And though we bid adieu to day, 
Wee shall not part for ever. 

jELP me, Julia, for to pray, 
Mattens sing, or Mattens say: 
I This I know, the Fiend will fly 
Far away, if thou beest by. 

Bring the Holy-water hither; 

Let us wash and pray together: 

When our Beads are thus united, 

Then the Foe will fly affrighted. 

HEN to thy Porch I come, 

and (ravisht) see 

The State of Poets there 

attending Thee : 
Those Bardes and I, all in a Chorus sing. 
We are Thy Prophets, Porter; Thou our King. 

NSTRUCT me now, what 

love will do : 

'Twill make a tongless 

man to wooe. 
Inform me next, what love will do; 
'Twill strangely make a one of too. 
Teach me besides, what love wil do; 
'Twill quickly mar, & make ye too. 
Tell me, now last, what love will do; 
'Twill hurt and heal a heart pierc'd through. 

151 



HESPERIDES 



To Julia 





To the 

Honoured, 

Master 

Endimion 

Porter 



Of Love 



HESPERIDES 

The School 
or Perl of 
Putney, the 
Mistress of all 
singular 
manners, 
Mistresse 
Portman 



On Himself 




'HETHER I was my selfe, or else did see 
Out of my self that Glorious Hierarchie! 
Or whether those (in orders rare) or these 
Made up One State of Sixtie Venuses; 
Or whether Fairies, Syrens, Nymphes they were 
Or Muses, on their mountaine sitting there; 
Or some enchanted Place, I do not know 
(Or Sharon, where eternall Roses grow.) 
This I am sure; I Ravisht stood, as one 
Confus'd in utter Admiration. 
Me thought I saw them stir, and gently move, 
And look as all were capable of Love: 
And in their motion smelt much like to flowers 
Enspir'd by th' Sun-beams after dews & showers. 
There did I see the Reverend Rectresse stand, 
Who with her eyes-gleam, or a glance of hand. 
Those spirits rais'd; and with like precepts then, 
(As with a Magick) laid them all agen : 
(A happy Realme ! When no compulsive Law, 
Or fear of it, but Love keeps all in awe.) 
Live you, great Mistresse of your Arts, and be 
A nursing Mother so to Majesty; 
As those your Ladies may in time be seene. 
For Grace and Carriage, every one a Queene. 
One Birth their Parents gave them; but their new, 
And better Being, they receive from You. 
Man's former Birth is grace-lesse; but the state 
Of life comes in, when he's Regenerate. 

WEARIED Pilgrim, I have wandred here 
Twice five and twenty (bate me but one yeer) 
Long I have lasted in this world; ('tis true) 
But yet those yeers that I have liv'd, but few. 
Who by his gray Haires, doth his lusters tell, 
Lives not those yeers, but he that lives them well. 
152 





One man has reatch't his sixty yeers, but he 
Of all those three-score, has not liv'd halfe three: 
He lives, who lives to virtue: men who cast 
Their ends for Pleasure, do not live, but last. 

'HY do'st thou wound, & break my heart, 

I As if we sho'd for ever part? 

Hast thou not heard an Oath from me, 

, After a day, or two, or three, 
I wo'd come back and live with thee? 
Take, if thou do'st distrust that Vowe; 
This second Protestation now. 
Upon thy cheeke that spangel'd Teare, 
Which sits as Dew of Roses there : 
That Teare shall scarce be dri'd before 
He kisse the Threshold of thy dore. 
Then weepe not, sweet; 
but thus much know, 
I'm halfe return'd before I go. 

LAS! I can't, for tell me how 
Can I be gamesome (aged now:) 
Besides, ye see me daily grow 
Here, Winter-like, to Frost and Snow. 

And I ere long, my Girles, shall see, 

Ye quake for cold to looke on me. 

HAVE been wanton, and too bold I feare. 
To chafe o'remuch the Virgin's cheek or eare: 
Beg for my Pardon, Julia; He doth winne 
Grace with the Gods, who's sorry for his sinne. 
That done, my Julia, dearest Julia, come. 
And go with me to choose my Buriall roome: 
My Fates are ended; when thy Herrick dyes, 
Claspe thou his Book, then close thou up his Eyes. 

153 



HESPERIDES 





His covenant 
or Protestation 
to Julia 



To his Girles 
who would 
have him 
sportful! 



His last 
request to 
Julia 



HESPERIDES 
On himself e 

To his Girles 



The Voice 
and Violl 



To Cupid 




On Himselfe 



To his Booke 



NE Eare tingles; some there be, 
That are snarling now at me: 
Be they those that Homer bit, 
I will give them thanks for it. 



ANTON "Wenches doe not bring 
For my haires black colouring : 
For my Locks (Girles) let'em be 
Gray or white, all's one to me. 

ARE is the voice itself e; 
but when we sing 
To' th' Lute or Violl, 
then 'tis ravishing. 



HAVE a leaden, thou a shaft of gold; 

Thou kil'st with heate, and I strike dead with cold. 

Let's trie of us who shall the first expire; 

Or thou by frost, or I by quenchlesse fire: 
Extreames are fatall, where they once doe strike. 
And bring to' th' heart destruction both alike. 

L'E write no more of Love; but now repent 
Of all those times that I in it have spent, 
lie write no more of life; but wish 'twas ended. 
And that my dust was to the earth commended. 

lOE thou forth, my booke, though late; 

Yet be timely fortunate. 

It may chance good-luck may send 

Thee a kinsman, or a friend. 
That may harbour thee, when I, 
With my fates neglected lye. 
If thou know'st not where to dwell. 
See, the f ier's by : Farewell. 
154 





ART of the worke remaines; HESPERIDES 
one part is past, 

And here my ship rides The end of 

having Anchor cast. his worke 

[HE worke is done: young On Himself e 

I men and maidens, set 

Upon my curies the 

Mirtle Coronet, 
Washt with sweet ointments; Thus at last I come 
To suffer in the Muses' Martyrdome: 
But with this comfort, if my blood be shed. 
The Muses will weare blackes, when I am dead. 



TO HIS BOOK'S END THIS LAST LINE HE'D HAVE PLAC'T, 
JOCOND HIS MUSE WAS; BUT HIS LIFE WAS CHAST 




/ 



HERE END THE POEMS SELECTED FROM THE 
HESPERIDES OF ROBERT HERRICK 

TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY COPIES 

HAVE BEEN PRINTED 

WITH INITIAL LETTERS AND DECORATIONS 

CUT ON WOOD FROM DESIGNS BY 

H. M. O'KANE 




PRINTED AND SOLD BY 

CLARKE CONWELL AT THE ELSTON PRESS 

NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK 

FINISHED 

THIS MAY-DAY 

MDCCCCIII 



H 45 1 85 ' 









<> ' . . « " » 




o' ""v^'-',**'' V'"^^'"/* \/"^'V* 'o^ -•...■ 

%.*' -A'-- ^^/ •^''■. %/ "A'- "--^'' 
















^^ - , 







...' y v-^'/ \/^^'/ ^^^-^ ^./^-^ 








HECKMAN 

BINDERY INC. 




1985 




N. MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA 46962 




•^o'' 




c^ . 







